Hawaii Paramedics Plucked From Flooded Vehicle as Storm Lala Batters Big Island

Two paramedics were rescued on Saturday after their vehicle became trapped in floodwaters on Hawaii's Big Island, just as Tropical Storm Lala began lashing the region with high winds and heavy rain. Footage released by the Hawaii National Guard shows the pair standing atop their vehicle, surrounded by fast-moving floodwater, before being brought to safety. Moments later, the vehicle itself is seen being carried away by the current.

The storm, which weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm on Sunday, has caused significant damage across the island. Officials report that approximately 100 homes were swept off their foundations by the powerful winds and rain. The storm did not make landfall, but its effects have been widely felt.

A flash flood warning remained in effect for much of the state on Sunday, though the National Hurricane Center has since downgraded the Big Island to a flood advisory. The storm's impact on infrastructure has been severe, with more than 200,000 homes and businesses losing power by midday, according to utility tracker poweroutage.us. Nearly two-thirds of customers on the Big Island were without electricity.

Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau, as officials warn of the potential for further destructive flooding in the coming hours.