Hurricane Lane - LIVE: FEMA preparing for landslides and inland flooding ahead of storm making landfall

'Life threatening impacts are likely in some areas as the hurricane makes its closest approach,' National Weather Service warns

Hurricane Lane approaches Hawaii

Hurricane Lane is threatening a direct hit on Hawaii and could become the most powerful storm to reach the archipelago in a quarter of a century.

Schools, governments and businesses have closed while residents stocked up on food, water and other supplies and boarded up homes.

The hurricane, classified as a powerful Category 4 storm, was packing sustained winds of up to 145mph (230 km/h) and could dump as much as 20in of rain over parts of the US Pacific island state, triggering flash flooding and landslides, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned.

Additional reporting by agencies

[23 August 2018 19:28 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

The last time a major hurricane hit Hawaii was 11 September 1992. Hurricane Inki was a Category 4 storm just like Lane. 

When Inki made landfall it passed north of Kauai it caused $3bn (£2.3bn) in damages. 

The Red Cross estimated it had destroyed or damaged nearly 15,000 homes and remains the costliest storm to hit the islands. 

Six people were killed from injuries related to the hurricane and more than 100 were injured. 

[23 August 2018 19:47 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

FEMA administrator Brock Long said there "is a lot of uncertainty" about the hurricane's forecasted path and intensity. 

“What is for sure: Hawaii is going to be impacted. The question is: how bad?," he said at a news conference ahead of the storm's landfall. 

Mr Long said the agency is looking at forecasts which predict 30 inches (76cm) in some parts of the island state. 

Flooding inland, landslides, and infrastructure damage are all concerns the agency is preparing to handle for at least the next four to five days. 

He also mentioned FEMA is in touch with major grocers in the affected areas in an attempt to coordinate. 

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has also been holding news conference to address concerns. 

[23 August 2018 20:40 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

Donald Trump has responded to the preparations for Hurricane Lane. The president tweeted "teams are closely coordinating with the state and local authorities. You are in our thoughts!" 

He included a link to a story from Fox News, his favoured news outlet, with the tweet. 

After criticism of the president and FEMA's response to another island hurricane disaster in Puerto Rico, the administration may be more prepared for this one, according to many Washington watchers. 

You can read more about what happened in Puerto Rico during and after Hurricane Maria in 2017, here: 

[23 August 2018 20:59 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

Here's an animation done by the National Weather Service in Hawaii. They tweeted "rain, rain, and more rain!" 

The lower wind speed of the hurricane may sound like a positive note but it does prolong the rain, which leads to inland flooding, landslides, road closure, and possibly infrastructure damage. 

[23 August 2018 21:29 · Mythili Sampathkumar]

Two campers are trapped in a valley on the Big Island's north coast according to state emergency personnel. 

The pair called in on Wednesday to report the heavy rains from Hurricane Lane's approach made it impossible for them to get out of the Waipio Valley and authorities have been unable to reach them since due to spotty mobile reception. 

Emergency crews cannot access their location safely because of landslides and continued rain, Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe told the Associated Press.