Hurricanes, Hawai'i and the US Navy

The hurricanes powering through the Hawai’ian islands today are reminding me of several incidents involving my family.

In 1982, powerful Hurricane Iwa roared over Kaua’i, the western most inhabited island in the chain, and left it in shambles.

Electrical power was out for more than a week in some places on this lush vegetated island, and it was declared a disaster area.

Among ideas floated for helping the residents, was sending the USS Indianapolis (SSN-697), a fast attack nuclear powered submarine, to help.

According to my personal resource (a former Submarine Repair Officer at Pearl Harbor Submarine Base), the Indianapolis would have gone into Nawiliwili Harbor (near the largest city, Lihue) and attached itself to the shore lines. They’d merely swap the way the electricity ran, in this case from the boat to the shore.

While a terrific idea, it didn’t come to that; three portable generators arrived in Kaua’i and they used them instead.

But other members of my family were also involved.

One relative worked for a the west coast distributor of Eveready batteries. They sent a pallet of batteries to Kaua’i and earned everyone’s thanks!

Naval Vessels and Hurricanes

It also reminds me of Hurricane Gloria, which came ashore in New England on September 27, 1985.

My husband’s submarine was in port that month, but as news of the hurricane changed and it became clear the storm was headed in our direction, every submarine at the New London Naval Submarine base took to sea.

“What do you mean?” I demanded, as the chief engineer packed up his gear. “Are you really going to leave me here in this house surrounded by trees with no neighbors, to fend for myself with two toddlers?”

He kissed me goodbye. “Submarines are safer under water during bad storms. If they stayed in port, they’d be banged up against the pier causing much damage.”

He didn’t seem to remember I’d grown up in southern California and had never been in a hurricane before. Click to Tweet

Off he went, and, in an unprecedented move, the submarine tender USS Fulton also set sail.

Such a sobering thought: women and children left behind in port while a hurricane hurtled in our direction. Click to Tweet

I prepared as best I could–moving vulnerable items to high ground, wrapping the photo albums in plastic and storing them in the washing machine and dryer (in case of water getting in the house, what better place?). I filled up the car with gas, bought batteries, made sure the camping stove and lamp worked and covered the wood pile twice with tarps.

I had plenty of canned goods and a hand crank can opener. When the winds rose and the fifty foot oak trees surrounding my house began to dance, I abandoned ship, er, house, and went to stay with Liz and Roy.

The children had a wonderful time. I watched the clouds mass and move from the safety of an upstairs window overlooking a hay field.

When the hurricane was past just before dusk, Roy followed us home.

It was dark on Route 12, all the traffic lights were out and still swinging in the heavy breeze. Several trees were downed along the way and branches covered our steep driveway.

The house looked fine.

Our metal storage shed, however, had been tossed into the air, thrown over the heating oil tank, and lodged in a tree.

“Your husband can take care of that when he gets back,” Roy chuckled. He taught me how to light the lantern and fought his way home.

We lived on a trunk line and got electricity back the next day.

We fared just fine.

And so did the submarines.

I’ve always liked the thought a submarine could have been used to power up the island of Kaua’i. Click to Tweet

For those of us who have spent years supporting nuclear submarines, it’s satisfying to know that in an emergency, their power can be used for local good.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Hawai’i today.