Coast Guard inspects Hawaii neighborhood for flooding after flash flooding
After heavy rain fell in Hawaii, Coast Guard crews scoured the Waialua and Haleiwa areas for signs of distress.
On Monday, March 23, crews and residents in Hawaii were assessing the widespread destruction caused by the worst flooding the state has experienced in more than 20 years.
A series of Kona storms, subtropical cyclones that typically affect the leeward side of the Hawaiian Islands, brought devastating rainfall and strong winds to Oahu and Maui. Over the weekend, flooding washed away homes, damaged roads, submerged vehicles and threatened a major dam on northern Oahu.
“On average, one to two Kona storms impact Hawaii each season, but it is extremely rare for two Kona storms to impact the Hawaiian Islands within the same month, especially within a week,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
About 5,500 people in northern Honolulu were ordered to evacuate due to the storm, and more than 200 people were rescued from devastating flooding, authorities said. The evacuation order has since been lifted, but much of the state remained under a flood watch through the weekend.
Forecasters and officials warned on March 23 that a flood watch remained in place for Hawaii Island through the afternoon as residents returned to their damaged homes. A flash flood warning was also issued for Oahu until the afternoon of March 23, according to the Honolulu Emergency Management Agency.
Aerial photos and video showed flooded areas and destroyed homes covered in thick mud. Scott Humber, a spokesman for the Honolulu Emergency Operations Center, told USA TODAY that it was “too early to make reliable damage estimates,” but that authorities continue to respond to the storm’s effects.
“Our immediate focus remains the safety of life, supporting affected residents, and stabilizing affected areas,” Humber said in a statement. “As the situation improves, city teams will continue to assess damage throughout the affected areas, particularly on the North Shore as well as Oahu’s Leeward Coast.”
Cleanup and restoration work underway
In a news release on Sunday, March 22, Hawaii Governor Josh Green said the immediate threat from the storm has passed and state and county officials are working to assess the damage and remove debris.
Several Honolulu departments assisted in removing debris on March 23, Humber said. The Honolulu Office of Marine Safety and the Honolulu Fire Department also assisted in safety efforts, and local police provided traffic control and security.
“We are now deploying additional resources directly to Waialua, including more than 20 roll-off dumpsters, to assist with the large-scale cleanup, and we are waiving tipping fees to make it easier for residents to dispose of debris,” Humber added.
Green said flood damage could total $1 billion. These costs include damage to numerous homes, roads, schools, the airport, and Maui’s hospital.
Although the storm affected many areas of the island, Oahu’s North Shore was particularly hard hit. The Honolulu Water Department issued boil water notices to North Shore residents, warning them of the risk of harmful bacteria. The agency could not give an estimate of when water services would be resumed.
The governor advised residents to “remain vigilant as the situation stabilizes,” noting that some areas are still experiencing flooding, road closures and infrastructure damage. He urged the public to avoid flooded and dangerous areas.
“Hawaii’s strength is its people,” Green said in a statement. “During this storm, we saw neighbors helping neighbors, communities coming together, and emergency teams working tirelessly to keep everyone safe. We want to thank our essential workers and partners for their incredible dedication, and we are deeply grateful to the people of Hawaii for looking out for each other during this difficult time.”
Hawaii’s worst flooding in more than 20 years
Green said the flooding in Hawaii was the worst to occur in the state since the Manoa floods of 2004. The October 30, 2004 flood was one of several flash floods that occurred during a storm that brought heavy rain. Rainfall peaked at 1.29 inches in 15 minutes and 8.71 inches in 6 hours.
The Mānoa River overflowed in several areas, with the worst of the flooding occurring when waves of water broke through residential areas and onto the University of Hawaii at Mānoa campus. According to the National Weather Service, flooding destroyed irreplaceable documents in the basement of the Hamilton Library and damaged several labs conducting important experiments.
No deaths or injuries were reported, but the damage amounted to approximately $85 million at the time. Approximately 120 homes were damaged and a pedestrian bridge over the Manoa River was destroyed.
Contributors: Dinah Voyles Pulver, Jeanine Santucci, Kate Perez, USA TODAY
