Tropical Storm Lala cuts power to 180,000 in Hawaii, Midwest floods kill seven

Hawaii residents faced extended power loss and flooded roads after Tropical Storm Lala swept the islands, while separate Midwest storms produced record river crests and seven confirmed deaths. The storm reached Category 1 strength with 75 mph winds before weakening, leaving 183,123 customers without electricity by Sunday afternoon according to poweroutage.us data cited by state officials and the Independent. Hawaiian Electric reported fallen trees and flooded access roads that slowed repairs on the Big Island and Maui County, where at least 100 homes sustained damage, Governor Josh Green stated. The National Hurricane Center recorded 10 to 20 inches of rain on the Big Island with isolated totals possibly reaching 25 inches, issuing explicit warnings of life-threatening flooding and mudslides in steep terrain. Airports and ports reopened by Sunday, yet travelers were advised to confirm flights after earlier closures. In Indiana, the White River crested above 24 feet in Anderson and Noblesville, exceeding 1913 records, and the National Weather Service linked the flooding to storms that began August 11. State homeland security spokesperson Liz Woods confirmed seven deaths, including a four-year-old boy killed by a falling tree in Jennings County, a 31-year-old cyclist who bypassed a barricade in Henry County, and a 19-year-old who entered the Mississinewa River. Nearly 130,000 Indiana customers remained without power midday Sunday, down from a peak near 300,000. One Hawaii report noted at least one car-related fatality that could not be independently verified by other outlets covering the same period. Officials across both regions urged residents to avoid flooded roadways as waters receded in some areas but remained elevated elsewhere.