Hawai'i County Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira mans the phone at the Civil Defense office in Hilo today as the status board behind him shows the direction of Hurricane Flossie. TIM WRIGHT | Associated Press   Big Island Mayor Harry Kim, left, watches as a state Civil Defense employee in Hilo points to the status board that shows the location of Hurricane Flossie. TIM WRIGHT | Associated Press

Flossie was moving west-northwest at 15 mph today with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, gusting to 167 mph. It is expected to pass within 100 miles of South Point on the Big Island tomorrow afternoon.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for the Big Island, meaning there is a possibility of hurricane-related surf, rain and wind within 36 hours.

Civil Defense officials are coordinating with state and federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on issues ranging from emergency shelters to evacuation plans, said Troy Kindred, administrator for Big Island Civil Defense.

"Being on the Big Island, where we have natural disasters and other things happen, we always maintain a high state of readiness," Kindred said. "But we are working very hard to make sure we're planning and preparing should something happen with Flossie."