Hawaii's Worst Flooding in 20 Years Threatens Dam, Prompts Evacuations as More Rain Looms
Key Takeaways
- Dam on Oahu at risk of imminent collapse, prompting evacuations.
- Heavy rains cause worst flooding in over 20 years, inundating North Shore neighborhoods.
- Officials warn more rain is expected over the weekend.
Historic Flooding Crisis
Hawaii is experiencing its most severe flooding in over two decades as intense rainfall inundates the islands, particularly Oahu's North Shore.
“Major rains pummeled the area for the second major rain event in a week”
Officials have issued urgent evacuation orders and warnings about potential dam failures.
The disaster unfolded as heavy rains fell on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter storm just one week prior.
"As Hawaii endures its worst flooding in more than 20 years, officials are urging people in hard-hit areas to 'LEAVE NOW,'" reported NBC News.
The situation was described as "catastrophic" by Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.
This flooding event represents Hawaii's worst since the 2004 Manoa floods, according to Governor Josh Green.
Mass Evacuations
Evacuation orders have been issued for 5,500 residents north of Honolulu as raging floodwaters have lifted homes and cars.
Authorities have issued urgent warnings about the potential failure of a 120-year-old dam.
"Muddy floodwaters smothered vast stretches of Oahu's North Shore, a community world-renowned for its big-wave surfing," stated WYMT.
Honolulu spokesperson Ian Scheuring noted that evacuation orders asked fleeing residents to carpool due to heavy traffic.
The aging dam has been a persistent concern for residents, with Waialua resident Kathleen Pahinui telling AP, "The aging dam is a concern every time it rains."
State Sen. Brenton Awa expressed concern about how unprecedented flooding might change the North Shore area.
Rainfall Intensity
The scale of the flooding is directly attributable to enormous rainfall amounts in a very short time on already saturated ground.
“Las autoridades han estado vigilando el nivel de las presas desde que la semana pasada una tormenta descargó lluvias torrenciales en todo el estado”
Some areas of Oahu received 8 to 12 inches of rain overnight and the island's highest peak, Kaala got nearly 16 inches in the previous 24 hours.
"Heavy bands of rain from a new Kona storm soaked Oahu overnight, dumping two to three months' worth of rain in 24 hours," reported RNZ.
The National Weather Service described this as "an ultra-rare flooding event."
Climate change experts point to human-driven climate change as making heavy rainfall in Hawaii both more intense and more frequent.
The flooding was caused by winter storm systems known as Kona lows, which bring moisture-rich air with southerly or southwesterly winds.
Emergency Response
Emergency response efforts have been extensive, with Hawaii Governor Josh Green activating the National Guard.
Federal assistance has been assured after Green's chief of staff spoke with the White House.
"The Hawaii National Guard has been activated to respond to the flooding," Governor Green stated in a social media post.
Rescue teams have been searching for stranded residents by air and water, though their work has been disrupted by people flying personal drones.
The National Guard and Honolulu Fire Department successfully airlifted 72 children and adults from a spring break youth camp.
Green estimated that the storm's damage could exceed $1 billion with impacts to airports, schools, roads, homes, and a hospital.
Future Outlook
The current flooding event surpasses Hawaii's previous significant disaster from 2004, when the Manoa floods swamped homes and a University of Hawaii library.
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RNZ reported that "the last flash flood emergency issued by the weather service in Honolulu was more than five years ago, in March 2021."
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi emphasized the ongoing nature of the crisis, stating "There's no question that the damage done thus far has been catastrophic."
With more rainfall still expected over the weekend and into the following week, officials maintained flood watches and warnings across the state.
"Oahu was expected to get another 6 to 8 inches over the next two to three days," Blangiardi warned.
The combination of saturated ground, continued rainfall, and the risk of dam failure created what officials described as an "extremely dangerous" situation.
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