Hundreds rescued, thousands of evacuations ordered in Hawaii as worst flooding in two decades continues
Nearly 200 people were rescued and thousands forced to evacuated as extreme rainfall and dangerous flash flooding slams the Hawaiian islands.
Nearly 200 people were rescued while dangerous flash flooding continues in Hawaii, as feet of relentless rain slams the islands through the weekend.
Evacuation Warnings remain in effect across the island, with the O'ahu Department of Emergency Management warning residents in Waialua that all roads are at risk of failing due to flooding.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said in a Friday evening press conference that this is the largest flood Hawaii has seen in 20 years since the flood of Manoa in 2004.
Gov. Green said nearly 196 people had been rescued as of Friday evening.
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More than 80 people at campsites were rescued by Honolulu Fire Department on O'ahu on Friday, with many more rescues likely across the island.
Flooding reached a dangerous peak Friday when a Flash Flood Emergency was issued over concerns of "imminent failure" at Wahiawa Dam in Honolulu County, prompting evacuation orders for Waialua and Haleʻiwa.
O'Ahu Emergency Management said on Saturday the dam continues to hold, but evacuation orders remain in place.
Gov. Green said a major hospital on Maui, airports, schools, homes and roads have all been damaged across the islands.
"We are now beginning to contemplate the reality that this storm could cost over a billion dollars of damage," Gov. Green said.
The American Red Cross has boots on the ground on O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island to assess damage from the most recent Kona Low storm.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it was on the ground to offer support and is monitoring conditions on O'ahu.
Hawaiian Electric warned residents to avoid downed power lines that could be energized. The agency warned people to stay at least 30 feet away from downed lines.
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Flash Flood Warnings remain in effect for Honolulu County and Maui County until 2:30 and 3 a.m. local time on Saturday.
A Flood Watch is in place for the entire state, excluding the summits of the Big Island, through Sunday.
Some locations have seen more than a foot of rain in just 24 hours.
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Hawaii has not seen much of a break from the rain, as they received more than 50 inches of rain with the most recent system earlier in the week.
The FOX Forecast Center said a larger Kona Low will bring several areas of low pressure over Hawaii through Monday, tapping into anomalously high atmospheric moisture, and will continue to deliver periods of heavy rain and flash flooding across Maui and the Big Island.
Another widespread 3-5" of rain is expected across almost all the islands through early next week. Higher amounts of 8-12" will remain across the higher elevations with localized amounts of over a foot once again possible, the FOX Forecast Center said.
By Monday morning, the heaviest rain will start to move away from Hawaii as a winds start to shift. The winds by Monday afternoon will shift to be more easterly allowing for the islands to start to dry out. By Tuesday, typical afternoon rain-showers will dominate the weather throughout the end of the week.
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