Flood disaster on Hawai’i’s Kauai

Hawai‘i – Hawai‘i has declared a state of disaster for the County of Kauai after severe weekend flooding caused mass evacuations and triggered emergency relief efforts.

Rescuers and volunteers have helped to evacuate hundreds of people trapped by floodwaters from communities left stranded and cut off by raging torrents and floods that triggered mudslides and power and water outages.

Food and water is being delivered to those remaining in areas inaccessible by flood-damaged roads, while in other parts the clean up of mud and debris has begun.

Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho and Governor David Ige have signed emergency proclamations to allow government departments to respond quicker in providing aid.

Hawai‘i’s News Now reports that early estimates put the number of homes and businesses that sustained severe damage or were destroyed in the ‘dozens’ with many buildings and homes underwater on Monday.

Home and business owners in the worst affected areas of Kauai and neighbouring east Oahu are now facing a lengthy clean up.

According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, the town of Hanalei recorded more than 700 mm of rain over a 24 hour period from Saturday to Sunday. - RNZI