Fellows mentioned in this story: Colton Ching

From Honolulu Star-Advertiser:

Emergency officials are warning residents to brace for the possibility of extended power outages as Hawai‘i enters an El Nino season expected to generate five to 13 tropical storms in the Central Pacific Basin.

The warning comes as Hawai‘i grapples with its energy future amid ambitious renewable‑­energy targets, and the state energy office says resiliency remains a priority.

It took more than two months for crews to restore power on Kaua‘i after Hurricane Iniki knocked out 5,000 utility poles in 1992. When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, workers needed 11 months to fully restore power to the island.

Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency information specialist Patrick Daley said a direct hit from a hurricane “would have the power to disrupt our energy supply for weeks or months, especially in rural and rugged areas where repairing utility poles and power lines is difficult.”

As emergency officials encourage residents to prepare for the worst, utility companies are stepping up efforts to harden infrastructure against natural disasters. Officials have reiterated that coordination across agencies is critical to expedite restoration and recovery.

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