ABC News, by Meredith Deliso, Kenton Gewecke, Jon Haworth, Kyle Reiman, and Ivan Pereira: A flash flood warning for Hawaii’s Oahu island has been extended Saturday as the threat for the imminent failure of the Wahiawa Dam continues to loom following heavy rainstorms.
State officials reported “catastrophic” damage as major rains pummeled the area for the second significant rain event in a week.
Dangerous flooding is continuing to impact Hawaii’s Oahu island. At a press briefing Friday evening, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said emergency crews have already rescued more than 230 people from life-threatening conditions.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said there were no confirmed fatalities or missing persons as emergency responders — including firefighters, the National Guard and military personnel — have been deployed across affected areas. However, he noted Saturday afternoon that there were “few serious injuries.”
The island’s emergency management office reported flooding and closed roads on the windward side of the island due to earlier flooding.
The heaviest rain is expected to continue through Saturday for most islands, with the Big Island getting the heaviest rain on Sunday and thunderstorms possible at times, which may include damaging winds.
The very saturated soil and the possibility of wind gusts up to 45 mph could more easily take down trees and power lines.
Additional rainfall accumulations between 2 and 7 inches are likely through the event this weekend.
A Winter Storm Warning is also in effect for the Big Island Summits from Saturday evening until Sunday for snowfall up to 10 inches and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
Earlier Friday, an evacuation order was issued for Haleiwa and Waialua, including areas near the Wahiawa Dam, according to Oahu Emergency Management, which warned that the dam “may collapse or breach at any time.”
The governor provided an update Saturday on the status of the dam.
“The dam is solid right now it’s around 81.83 ft — 85 ft being the threshold of great concern. But we still have evacuated 5,500 people,” he said in a video update posted on Facebook.
At one point on Friday morning, Oahu Emergency Management said the dam was “at imminent risk of failure,” though later the agency said dam levels were trending down.
At the press briefing Friday evening, officials said they are closely monitoring water levels at the dam and other locations. Concerns centered on rising water levels and the risk of overflow, which could affect stability.
Authorities said widespread damage has already been reported to homes, roads, schools, airports and at least one hospital on Maui, where patients had to be relocated. The full financial impact is still being assessed, but early estimates suggest losses could surpass $1 billion.
At a press briefing earlier Friday, the Honolulu mayor said “dozens, if not maybe hundreds of homes” had been affected by the flooding.
“There’s no question that the damage done thus far has been catastrophic,” he said.
Search and rescue operations were ongoing on Oahu’s north shore, according to Honolulu spokesperson Ian Scheuring, who did not have an official number of people rescued so far.
On Oahu, all state departments have closed and employees not involved in disaster response and preparedness were sent home Friday due to the weather conditions.
The latest flood threat comes a week after a damaging flood event that washed away roads and damaged homes.
A flash flood emergency was issued for northern Oahu earlier Friday for “catastrophic” flooding. Local emergency personnel had reported “life-threatening flash flooding” early Friday across northern Oahu, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
“Floodwaters have cut off road access in and out of Haleiwa, and widespread flooding of roadways and low-lying areas is ongoing,” the NWS said, warning that “significant runoff continues to produce high water levels and dangerous flooding impacts.”
Prophetic Link:
“Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord’s appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.” Desire of Ages, 636.1
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