Oʻahu schools, city and state non-essential offices and courts will be closed on Friday as the island once again prepares for severe weather entering the weekend, officials announced early Thursday evening.
“With the ground saturated from back-to-back storms that began last month, we are taking this situation extremely seriously,” Gov. Josh Green said in a press release. “Closing schools and state offices will allow families to focus on staying safe, together. It also will support emergency operations and sheltering, should the need arise.”
Later Thursday, state parks and libraries also announced closures.
Disaster response employees are reporting to work, and emergency shelters were open at the time of the announcement at Wahiawā District Park, Mānoa Valley District Park, Wai‘anae District Park and Kāne‘ohe District Park. Two more evacuation shelters were scheduled to open later Thursday evening at Kahuku Elementary and Nānākuli High and Intermediate…