Water is receeding out of Hilo Bay around 11:30 am our time. Cloud of brown water on other side in Kona.
I'm so impressed with the civil defense system here. Police were even at gas stations while lines were wrapped around the corners with folks waiting to fill. Grochery store parking lots were full. I went and filled up after the rush, then to the store, the the bank to withdraw cash which they were recommending on the radio.
Both planes and coast guard helicopters are flying around the coast lines monitoring the situation. The radio station was taking calls from folks situated around the island at different ocean view locations giving reports. Ironically the whales were still breaching off of Lapaeupaeu point. I also saw police cars situated at entrances to where the road went down toward the ocean. The public is being notified that the sirens will go off also at the all clear point. Radios were playing loudly at the gas stations so folks could monitor what was going on. Dumps were closed and all extra folks whose names were on the lists were notified around 6 am and put on alert as to what they were expected to do. It's like a well oiled machine out there.
The public was asked not to use water due to low lying sewage stations in case there is a backwash. Meanwhile, the town looks deserted as everyone is off to high points to observe the event. One lone surfer was out in the water and they got that dude out. Many of the hotels are built right next to the water and could sustain damage. There is evacuation for some of those areas as well.
My husband is in the thick of it with home bound patients and calling home to give reports. Meanwhile all is calm at the home front and I'm going out now to water the garden.
