Hawaii faces months of power outages after storm damages grid

Hawaii is bracing for extended power outages following severe damage to its electrical grid caused by Storm Lala. As of Monday night, over 80,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity, with some customers facing months before power is restored. Major transmission lines were heavily disrupted, particularly on the Big Island and Maui, according to Hawaiian Electric Industries.

The utility company anticipates repairs could take weeks or even months, having already restored power to three major lines on the Big Island. Across the two most populous islands, O'ahu and the Big Island, 25 transmission lines were out of service. Additionally, the storm knocked out power at a water treatment plant, leading to a partial discharge of wastewater along the Sandy Beach shoreline, which has since been halted.

However, residents have been warned to avoid contact with the water until authorities deem it safe. The police department reported that 911 emergency services were also non-functional, urging the public to use alternative contact numbers for emergency services. Storm Lala's unprecedented rainfall led to significant damage to power lines, roads, and bridges across Hawaii.