Hawaii issues emergency proclamation ahead of Hurricane Lane

San Francisco (dpa), Aug 22, 2018-   Hawaii’s governor has issued an emergency proclamation as category 5 Hurricane Lane bears down on the state.   

Governor David Ige made the proclamation late Tuesday, saying he had “never seen such dramatic changes in the forecast” as with the hurricane.   

Lane, packing wind gusts of up to 260 kilometres per hour, is expected to hit Hawaii on Wednesday and stay until at least Saturday.   

“This will allow us to line up services and resources prior so that we can keep our communities safe... [I am] urging residents and visitors to prepare for a significant impact,” Ige wrote on Facebook and Twitter.   

Earlier, the mayor of Honolulu on the state’s Oahu island, Kirk Caldwell, had asked residents to prepare 14-day hurricane kits and check in with friends and neighbours.