In brief
Crews in Honolulu are assessing damage from a sudden downpour that caused significant flooding in neighborhoods near downtown. This incident is part of a series of storms that have impacted Hawaii over the last two weeks, with many residents facing substantial losses and damage. The National Weather Service had not anticipated the severity of this storm, leading to widespread community repercussions.
HONOLULU (AP) — Crews on Tuesday began evaluating the damage from a surprise downpour that sent floodwaters raging through a neighborhood near downtown Honolulu, the latest bout in a series of storms and flooding that have pummeled the state over the past two weeks. Residents along Oahu’s North Shore, known for its big wave surfing, were cleaning up from the worst flooding to hit Hawaii in two decades when a storm on Monday unleashed several inches of rain on the southern part of the island. Reddish-brown torrents gushed along roads in the Manoa Valley, sweeping away parked cars and swamping much of the neighborhood. “I was shocked to see how much flash flooding there was in my area,” said resident Andrew Phomsouvanh, who recorded video of streets transformed into a confluence of rapids. “The water just keeps coming.” Maile Mills knew there was nothing she could do to save her Honda Civic, parked on the street in front of her Manoa office building, when she saw the water reach the car’s door handles. The flood pushed the vehicle onto the curb, totaling it, with silt and muddy water saturating the interior and engine compartment. “The situation was surreal; all the cars started to float like rubber ducks in a pond,” Mills said. At the height of the storm, the National Weather Service recorded a staggering 6 inches of rain in just one area. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi described it as a “classic rain bomb,” highlighting that his administration received no prior warning of the impending catastrophe. As cleanup commenced, many community members were mobilizing to assist those affected, vastly overwhelmed by the storm’s impact. The total damages are expected to surpass $1 billion, according to Governor Josh Green. Furthermore, experts note that the intensity and frequency of such heavy rains have escalated, attributed to human-caused global warming.
