HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Honolulu officials lifted evacuation orders for Otake, Waialua and Haleiwa on Saturday and closed most emergency shelters as conditions improved following flooding that destroyed homes and displaced families.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi said first responders conducted 233 rescues during the storm, with no reported fatalities.
Shelters closing, ambulance lost
Randy Collins, director of the Department of Emergency Management, said most shelters were closing Saturday evening. Shelters at Kaneohe District Park and Nanakuli High and Intermediate will remain open for residents who need services.
The Emergency Operations Center was activated at 11 p.m. Thursday night as the storm intensified.
Dr. Jim Ireland, director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, said a Waialua ambulance was overwhelmed by water while responding to a call. The crew helped rescue four children from a collapsed house with a police officer before being evacuated by a high-water rescue vehicle.
“That ambulance, we think, is a total loss, a brand new ambulance, but at the same time, property can be replaced,” Ireland said.
The Waialua Ambulance Station was also damaged by floods and is not usable.
Two Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) ambulances were stationed in Haleiwa on Saturday.
Ireland warned residents exposed to floodwaters to watch for gastrointestinal illness, fever or infected cuts, noting risks of sewage discharge and leptospirosis.
Ocean safety warnings issued
Kurt Lager, chief of the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department, issued an island-wide brown water advisory affecting every beach.
“We want you to stay out of the water for at least 72 hours until we can keep an eye on it and make sure that the water clears out,” Lager said.
Debris, animal remains and rubbish washed into the ocean from rivers and streams. The debris can attract sharks, Lager said.
Lifeguards assisted other first responder agencies with rescue boards and jet skis during the flooding.
Fire station flooded
Fire Chief Kalani Hau said the Waialua fire station was inundated with water. The department is making contingency plans for an off-site location to continue providing services.
At one point during the storm, 53 of the city’s 60 fire stations had crews in the field responding to 911 calls, Blangiardi said.
Interim Police Chief Raddy Vanic said access into Waialua is limited to local traffic only as residents return and crews continue cleanup work.
Storm intensity exceeded forecasts
Blangiardi said the second Kona low was expected to be considerably weaker than the first storm, but rainfall exceeded forecasts.
“What was supposed to be two to three inches of rain, it became 10 in a matter of only three hours,” Blangiardi said. “And that is what’s really created a lot of tension and quite honestly, damage over the last 48 hours.”
The two storm systems brought between 30 and 40 inches of rain to many parts of Oahu.
“We have a lot of concern because at this level, because everything is so saturated and the rivers are so full, it doesn’t take much to bring that flooding back,” Blangiardi said. “So I’m not breathing a sigh of relief yet right now.”
The mayor assessed damage from a Honolulu Fire Department helicopter on Saturday.
“I’ve lived in Hawaii for 61 years. I’ve seen post-storm stuff. I’ve never seen the ocean as brown as we saw today,” Blangiardi said.
“Despite what has been back-to-back incredible storm systems that have hovered over us and really impacted our island, no one died, to the best of my knowledge,” Blangiardi said at a Saturday afternoon press conference. “There were no fatalities.”
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply issued a boil water notice for the entire North Shore water system, from Mokuleia through Turtle Bay. The water system lost power and drained during the flooding.
“We are taking a very cautious approach here,” said Ernie Lau, board director. “Before you take the water out of your kitchen tap and drink it, that you’d boil it vigorously at least for three minutes and let it cool.”
The notice applies to drinking water, cooking and oral hygiene. The board positioned two 2,000-gallon water tankers at Waialua Community Association and Sunset Beach Neighborhood Park.
Community assistance available
Amy Miller, president and CEO of Hawaii Food Bank, said distributions are planned for Sunday at Mililani Park and Ride from 9 a.m. to noon and at Kaala Elementary from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. A mobile pantry will operate on the North Shore.
Anna Neubauer, president and CEO of Hawaiian Humane Society, said officers were rescuing cats and dogs on Saturday. Residents who lost pets or had to evacuate without them can call 808-356-2200 or visit hawaiianhumane.org. A pet food bank will be available Sunday at the Ewa Beach location.
Maj. Troy Trimmer with the Salvation Army said the organization served nearly 2,500 meals during the storm and opened a shelter at the Hawaii Kroc Center on Friday night. The Salvation Army will release information early in the week about financial assistance and material assistance for those impacted.
Blangiardi encouraged residents who need help to contact the city via the 311 hotline.
Gov. Josh Green has been in contact with Washington, D.C., and Homeland Security about federal support, Blangiardi said.
Blangiardi added that he has also spoken to Hawaii’s congressional delegation for support as well.“You know, the state’s going to be there. The city will be there. Just as we promised everybody going into this storm, we would not let our people down.”
Saturday, March 21
Friday, March 20
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