Gov. David Ige says President Donald Trump has approved a request for emergency aid as Hurricane Lane approaches the islands.

The presidential disaster declaration means Hawaii will have easy access to federal resources as communities recover from any damage or losses caused by the hurricane.

The declaration authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance for emergency measures required to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety.

Ige also said he was putting all nonessential state employees on Oahu and Kauai on leave starting Thursday. They join their colleagues on Maui and Hawaii counties, who were given leave starting today.

Ige said the state was in the process of closing the state’s commercial harbors in anticipation of the storm.

In addition, he announced that several highways prone to flooding would be closed, including the Kailua-bound lanes of the Pali Highway starting at 8 p.m. Thursday.