Hawaii assesses damage left by worst flooding in more than 20 years | Hawaii

Hawaii is grappling with massive damage from the islands’ worst flooding in more than 20 years.

Over the weekend, heavy rains fell on land already saturated with downpours from the winter storm a week ago, forcing thousands of people on Oahu’s North Shore to evacuate before more evacuations were made on parts of the island of Maui.

The rains flooded homes and cars, submerged farms, washed away markets and left a thick layer of mud on streets, homes and gardens. Officials warned that the 120-year-old dam could collapse.

More than 200 people were rescued from rising waters. No deaths have yet been reported, Oahu Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Molly Pierce said Sunday afternoon.

Hawaii meteorologist Matthew Foster told The Associated Press on Sunday afternoon that the worst of the storms were over. The weather changed from widespread showers to scattered rain from Oahu, Maui County to Hawaii Island. Less than 5 inches (13 cm) of rain is expected on Hawaii Island, with 1 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm) expected in other areas.

Winds will blow from the northeastern sides of the islands, which have more vegetation and can withstand more rain, Foster said. It will take a few days for the moisture to pass through the islands, and drier, more typical March weather can be expected by Wednesday.

Additional flooding could still occur, but on an isolated scale rather than widespread, Foster said.

Pierce said assessment teams will be on the North Shore until at least Monday. However, it is already clear that the damage caused by the flood was extensive. Hawaii Governor Josh Green said the cost of the storm could reach $1 million, including damage to airports, schools, roads, homes and the Maui hospital in Kula.

In Waialua and Hale’iwa on the North Shore, many homes in low-lying areas were covered in mud. The gardens were filled with rubble. The teams were cleaning the roads. Residents were examining their belongings and deciding what to keep and what to throw away.

A boil water advisory remained in effect Sunday for North Shore areas from Mokuleia to Turtle Bay, and residents were encouraged to report damages to the city.

Winter storm systems known as “Kona lows,” in which winds blowing from the south or southwest bring moisture-laden air, were responsible for the flooding over the past two weeks. Experts say the intensity and frequency of heavy rains in Hawaii are increasing due to human-caused global warming.