Hurricane Lane: Residents of Hawaii's Big Island still under threat after storm

World
Europe

03:07

Hurricane Lane has moved out to sea and has been downgraded to a tropical depression. But Hawaiians are still on edge. There's a risk of flash floods and the threat could last for days. CGTN's Phil Lavelle reports from Hawaii's Big Island where cleanup is underway.

Hawaii avoided a direct hit. But just look at the damage, the heartache - the storm caused anyway.

"We were inundated."

Lane downgraded from a Category 5 hurricane to Tropical Storm to Tropical Depression as it eventually moved out into the Pacific. And so much rain. Reports that more than a meter fell in some spots. Homes and businesses flooded.

CYNTHIA INOUYE BUSINESS OWNER "There's a lot of cleaning to do, a lot of workers to deal with. Lots of things that we have to contend with."

Cynthia's gas station in the city of Hilo - short on cars right now. Except those that were abandoned when the storm came. The power went out here nearly a week ago.

CYNTHIA INOUYE BUSINESS OWNER "We've been out of business, the transformer blew since Wednesday, it's just been waiting and waiting and waiting. They won't fix it until the water recedes."

PHIL: "So you could be like this for several more days."

CYNTHIA: "Yeah. It's just a waiting game. It's just a waiting game."

That means no refrigeration. Food lost to mold because it's gone bad in the tropical heat. Bags of ice - left to melt outside. All wasted.

PHIL: "So how much money have you lost because of all of this?"

CYNTHIA: "I would say several hundred, in the thousands."

The family, trying to clean up now. But the power may not be back until the water dries up, which may be a while. Lane taunted Hawaiians for days. Residents warned to stockpile food. This was a life-threatening concern at one point before Lane headed west near the island of Oahu and weakened.

PHIL LAVELLE BIG ISLAND, HAWAII "Here on Hawaii's Big Island, the storm drains are really working overtime now. Because Storm Lane may now have passed, but it's what she's left behind The frequent flash floods - the threat that these will continue for several days. And they just add to the danger."

Specifically landslides. Falling rocks have led to road closures and near misses. The ground's been softened by the storm. More rain could mean more of these. And of course, more misery for the people caught in Lane's wake who feel abandoned by the authorities.

CYNTHIA INOUYE BUSINESS OWNER "I feel like because we're only one business, it's like, we're forgotten. We're not important, you know, we're just not important."

The anger and the heartbreak, Lane's legacy.

PHIL: "How annoyed are you that you're having to essentially throw money away?"

CYNTHIA: "Oh god, annoyed is one thing, but totally exhausted! Exhausted. Because part of the exhaustion is not getting any kind of support."

That will last far longer than any storm. Phil Lavelle, CGTN, Hawaii.