Hurricane Lala has been downgraded to a tropical storm after rolling past Hawaii’s Big Island, and recovery and clean-up efforts begin as heavy rain continues across the archipelago. Officials start damage assessments and local response activities Sunday, following the storm’s passage.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green says the state is still investigating whether any deaths are linked to the storm. He notes there was a “terrible car accident” that officials consider potentially storm-related, and he adds that determining fatalities is difficult and ongoing. Both outlets report that Lala’s downgrade and westward movement are part of the storm’s changing status as rain and impacts persist in Hawaii.
