KEMA urges public to stay off roads as crews assess Hurricane Lowell

Published on September 08, 2026

LĪHUʻE – As Hurricane Lowell continues past Kauaʻi and Niʻihau and weather conditions slowly improve, Kauaʻi emergency officials are urging all residents and visitors to stay off roadways and avoid unnecessary travel to allow first responders and emergency crews to continue operations and assess the widespread damage.

Trees and utility lines are down in areas across the island, making travel perilous. Roadways need to remain free of vehicles so first responders can continue to care for those who need immediate assistance. Crews are being dispatched to clear the highest priority roads and to ensure critical infrastructure is restored as soon as possible.

Schools and government offices are closed on Kauaʻi today to encourage everyone to stay at home.

“As the light comes up and the extent of the damage from Hurricane Lowell comes into focus, we want to ensure that no additional emergency situations arise unnecessarily,” said Elton Ushio, Administrator of the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency. “Mahalo in advance for your help and cooperation as we work to get our island back on its feet after this powerful storm.”

Residents are urged to closely document damage to their homes and property. A damage assessment form is available through the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency website at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/54d0b90fb9a74a1094e89d9f26b5d759.

The information provided will help the County of Kauaʻi understand the scope of residential damage and impacts to our community. Damage reports may be used to determine whether our jurisdiction qualifies for state or federal assistance. Affected parties still need to file claims with their insurance companies for residential damage and personal property losses. Residents can also notify authorities about public hazards at: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/060659e0fd7344d59ccb2056dcbe53f9. This form is for reporting non-life-threatening roadway and public space flood damage and hazards.  

Please call 911 if an immediate danger or threat is present.

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