Flooding in Hawaii Reaches Historic Records

Heavy rains from early to mid-March in Hawaii have brought many flash floods and powerful rainstorms. Maui and Oahu have been the center of impact, but other islands have also been affected. Many of these rainstorms have brought record rainfall that hasn’t been seen in decades.

The first storm from March 10-16 has brought powerful winds, with Hawai’i Island having winds of up to 135.4 miles per hour. In islands like Maui, rain has reached up to 62 inches. The second storm from March 19-23 has brought even more rain, with local areas having up to 61 inches of rainfall. By March 21, the storm calmed down, and most of it seemed to be over. Overall, the storms have brought up to 2 trillion gallons of rain over the time period of March 1-23!

This flooding has caused damage throughout all the islands, with many buildings destroyed. “Between March 1 and March 23, statewide rainfall averaged 18.25 inches—more than 2.6 times the standard March average of 6.85 inches,” states University of Hawai’i News. Flash floods and rising waters caused roads to be washed away into streams, and thousands of people have experienced power outages and high winds. Furthermore, flash floods pushed people to search for higher land to find safety.

Many are being rescued from floodwaters, with 230 people being successfully saved. Communities across Hawaii are beginning to recover roads, power lines, electricity, and houses. Hawaii’s governor, Josh Green, believes that damages could reach up to 1 billion dollars. The Hawai’i Mesonet is providing critical weather information to people, and many are using this to help the people of Hawaii. Moreover, people in Hawaii are volunteering to help clean roads, restore bridges, and clean debris and mud throughout all of Hawaii. Many non-profits are also providing shelter and food to people who need it.

This has been one of the most destructive storms in the history of Hawaii. Many are still recovering and are striving to resolve the damage. Further reports are expected in the future.

Sources:

University of Hawai’i News