Evacuation Orders Lifted in Waialua and Haleiwa as Wahiawa Dam Stabilizes
Evacuation Orders Lifted in Waialua and Haleiwa
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The city of Honolulu lifted all evacuation orders for the areas of Waialua and Haleiwa on Saturday afternoon as concerns over flooding eased. The decision was made at 2:41 p.m., according to officials.
Hawaii News Now has declared First Alert Weather Days through Sunday due to the ongoing threat of heavy rain and potential flash flooding. This alert serves as a reminder for residents to stay vigilant and prepared for any changes in weather conditions.
Earlier that day, Governor Josh Green provided updates regarding the situation at Wahiawa Dam, which had initially prompted the evacuation orders. He stated that water levels at the dam stabilized overnight, bringing relief to the affected communities.
Green explained that the dam had been rising toward 85 feet over the past day and a half but had settled at 81.83 feet by 6:30 a.m. Officials were taking readings every two hours to monitor the situation closely.
“At 85 feet, everyone’s got to be out of there,” Green said. “At 88 feet, it becomes perilous. At 90 feet, which we have not seen anything like that, we would worry that the water would go over the top of the dam and cause damage and, God forbid, cause a catastrophic failure of a dam.”
Real-Time Monitoring and National Guard Support
Residents can now monitor real-time reservoir levels via the USGS gauge, providing them with up-to-date information about the status of the dams in the area. In addition, the National Guard has played a crucial role in supporting the state during this time of crisis.
More than 200 National Guard members were activated during the storm, assisting with rescues, road closures, and door-to-door checks. Green emphasized that Guard leaders have also been stationed at Wahiawa Dam to provide “extra readings and extra eyes” as officials continue to monitor the conditions.
On Saturday, Guard members trekked through mud to check on residents in the outskirts of Waialua, ensuring that no one was left behind and that assistance was provided where needed.
Statewide Dam Safety Measures
Hawaii is home to 122 dams statewide, all of which are monitored by the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Dam Safety Program. Green announced that the state will reassess its overall approach to dam safety, including the addition of more visual monitoring tools such as cameras and accelerating structural improvements like spillway projects.
“It’s just too big a deal to see a disaster like that happen,” he said. “We’re going to have to really make sure that we have extra resources, both visually — we’re putting more cameras on them — and also structurally, helping probably do some more of the spillways,” Green added, noting that he has already spoken with Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen about advancing spillway work to make the dams safer.
Federal Support and Damage Assessments
Green mentioned that the White House reached out to him preemptively, and the federal response has been supportive as teams prepare to assess the damage caused by the recent storms.
“FEMA is reaching out, and our teams will be working together this coming week to begin to assess the full scope of the damage,” he said. Green noted that some areas have experienced as much as 50 inches of rain across two storms, and the damage could exceed $1 billion.
Officials have urged residents to remain cautious, avoid flooded roads, and follow alerts as heavy rain and flash flooding remain possible through the weekend.
Previous Coverage Highlights
The situation surrounding the Wahiawa Dam and the subsequent evacuations led to several reports highlighting the severity of the flooding. Initial concerns about the dam’s structural integrity prompted immediate action, and while the dam was later deemed structurally sound, the evacuation order remained in effect.
Other reports detailed the impact of the Kona low, including the closure of roads, emergency shelters, and the challenges faced by residents due to the heavy rainfall. The state has been actively managing the situation, with efforts focused on both immediate relief and long-term safety measures.
As the community continues to recover from the recent storms, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of residents and the infrastructure that supports them.
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