Flood victims prepare for threat of heavy rains

HONOLULU (KHON2) — It’s all hands on deck with the threat of heavy rain forcing officials to take preemptive action.

In a statement Governor Josh Green said:

“We are taking our preparedness seriously. The National Guard is on-hand to respond swiftly and effectively to any emergencies that arise from the Kona Low storm conditions.”

As of 7 p.m. Wednesday the city activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). In a statement, Mayor Rick Blangiardi urged residents to:

“Take precautions now. If possible, stay off the roads, especially on Thursday. If you must drive, be aware of hazardous conditions, including ponding on roadways.”

Monday in windward Oahu, rain gauges recorded 10 inches of rain in areas turning roads into rivers, stalling cars, causing landslides, flooding businesses. Waiahole Poi Factory just one of the places that ended up under water.

“This whole area was flooded and it got into the store,” Waiahole Poi Factory administrator Leinaala Cruz explained.

“About how deep was it?” KHON asked.

“I’m going to say about 12 inches, maybe a foot inside,” Cruz added. “Outside, totally different story. A little bit higher than that.”

With more rain on the way, Cruz said they are taking precautions with sandbags and metal planks ready to hopefully stop the water from going in.

But the pile of debris in the river next to the shop is a concern. They had hoped crews would clear it before this next round of rain.

“There’s a lot of debris at the bridge so that’s a challenge,” Cruz said. “So the best that we can do is shore up on the inside.”

Over in Aina Haina, Pete Tuohy is also concerned.

“Well, you saw my sandbags in the garage so that’s all I can do for that side of the house,” Tuohy said. “You know everything slopes down from the street. But everything from the canal. There’s nothing you can do here.”

Tuohy’s home, located right next to Wailupe stream, was one of hundreds of homes flooded in April 2018 when record rainfall came down the mountain turning Kalanianaole Hwy into a raging river.

He’s thankful he hasn’t seen the river next to his house rise above the banks since so he is cautiously optimistic.

The Department of Transportation closed the Kailua-bound portion of Kalanianaole Hwy between Kamehameha Highway and Kapaa Quarry Road from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. to stabilize the slope and prevent more landslides in the area…

DOT also plans to shut down the right lane o the Pali Highway, town bound, just after the tunnels from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday to repair the slope stabilization fabric that ripped due to heavy rains. The area the site of a major landslide back in December.

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“It’s gonna rain. You know, what can you do about it? It’s mother nature,” Tuohy said.