September Mayor's Highlights Newsletter
This is a digital version of Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s newsletter for September 2026. You can also view the PDF version of the newsletter here.
For days, the City and County of Honolulu prepared for Tropical Storm Lala.
As the storm approached, City departments positioned equipment, cleared streams and drainage areas, secured facilities, prepared emergency communications systems and coordinated with State, federal and community partners.
The City’s Emergency Operations Center and Honolulu Police Department Joint Operations Center were activated. Eight hurricane refuge areas opened across Oʻahu, first responders increased staffing and City crews were positioned across the island, ready to respond as conditions deteriorated.
When Lala arrived, it brought powerful winds, heavy rain, dangerous surf and widespread power outages. Trees and power lines came down, roadways flooded and communities across Oʻahu experienced significant damage.
Throughout the storm, thousands of City employees and first responders remained on the job. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, ocean safety personnel, emergency managers, utility workers and City crews worked through challenging conditions to protect residents and keep critical services operating.
Then, as soon as conditions allowed, the City shifted from response to recovery.
Crews moved across the island clearing roads, removing fallen trees and debris, repairing traffic signals, inspecting infrastructure and helping communities begin the difficult process of cleaning up.
The preparation began days before Lala reached Oʻahu. The response continued throughout the storm. And now, that same City team is helping lead Oʻahu through recovery.
A Message from Mayor Blangiardi
“What we saw during Tropical Storm Lala was an extraordinary response by people across this island. Our first responders worked in extremely difficult conditions. Our City crews worked around the clock. Our emergency management teams, shelter workers, dispatchers and so many others stepped up when our community needed them most.
I am incredibly proud of this team, but I am equally grateful to the people of Oʻahu. Residents took this storm seriously, prepared their families, looked after their neighbors and gave our crews the space they needed to do their jobs.
The storm has passed, but our work is not finished. We will continue working until our communities recover and Oʻahu is back on its feet.”
The City’s Commitment to Our Communities
The City and County of Honolulu has repurposed Oneoahu.org to connect residents with resources and information after Tropical Storm Lala.
The page links residents with a form to report home damage, information about permitting and rebuilding, and how to dispose of storm debris, including green waste.
In addition, there is information about how to receive help and where to go to give help. Updates on the City’s ongoing response to the storm are also available.
Community Food Distributions
The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Community Services issued $200,000 in emergency funding to the Hawaiʻi Foodbank to help our community partners distribute thousands of pounds of food to residents impacted by Tropical Storm Lala.
Food distribution events were set up across the island, from Kaneohe to Waianae to Kahuku, assisting thousands of families. Food was a major concern following power and water outages that lasted for days in some communities. Many people had to dump their food that spoiled in refrigerators.
How to be Prepared for the Next Storm
Tropical Storm Lala and the Kona Low storms provided dramatic evidence that Oʻahu is not immune to natural disasters. These severe weather events demonstrate how important it is that everyone takes the simple but vital steps to prepare today. Here are some valuable tools to help you be ready for the next storm!
Evacuation Go Bag
A Go Bag should provide enough quick-access supplies to get you through the initial phases of an emergency and evacuation. You should have one bag for each member of your household. Items should include:
- Sturdy shoes
- IDs and important documents
- Phone charger
- Medication and glasses
- Extra cash
14-Day Emergency Supply
We must be ready with food, water, and emergency supplies for 14 days in case goods cannot be offloaded from ships or utilities are out. Items should include:
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
