A powerful storm named Lala swept past Hawaii's Big Island this week, dumping heavy rain, flooding rivers and knocking out power to homes. At least one person was killed.

The storm approached as a hurricane before weakening to a tropical storm. It skirted the Big Island without making landfall, but its wind and rain reached the region all the same, and the flooding that followed proved to be among the most damaging parts of the event.

Some areas recorded as much as three feet of rain. The downpour turned streams and rivers into fast-moving torrents, and in places the water swept away homes. Emergency officials worked through the flooding as roads became impassable and property was damaged.

One death was reported in connection with the storm. Many customers lost electricity as winds and rising water brought down lines and disrupted service across affected communities.

Forecasters had tracked Lala closely as it neared the islands, warning residents of the potential for dangerous flooding. Even as the system lost strength and dropped below hurricane classification, the risk did not pass with it. The heaviest rain continued to fall after the winds began to ease, and officials cautioned that flooding remained a threat even after the storm weakened.

The Big Island, the largest in the Hawaiian chain, absorbed the brunt of the weather.

Recovery efforts focused on restoring power, clearing debris and assessing the damage to homes and infrastructure. The full scope of the destruction was still being tallied as the storm moved on and conditions began to settle.

Storms of this kind are closely watched in Hawaii, where the geography leaves communities exposed to both wind and water.

References

1. 1.National Weather Service — storm classification, track, and rainfall totals
2. 2.Local emergency officials — flooding, damage, and reported death
3. 3.Utility service reports — power outages across affected communities