Hawaii's Rains, Floods Cited as Examples of Climate Change – Courthouse News Service courthousenews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from courthousenews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Heavy rains lead to crippling floods in Hawaii. Scientists warn of more occurrences due to climate change. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
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Days of torrential rain have caused catastrophic flooding across Hawaii this week, which officials and climate scientists say are occurring more frequently as the planet warms.
The threat of heavy showers was forecast to continue at least through Wednesday and likely longer. The downpours first affected Maui, moved northward up the island chain to Oahu and Kauai, then circled around and hit the southernmost part of the Big Island, forcing evacuations, closing roads and destroying homes in the process.
State: Maui Dam Was In Unsatisfactory Condition When It Overflowed - Honolulu Civil Beat
State: Maui Dam Was In ‘Unsatisfactory’ Condition When It Overflowed
The county has said at least half a dozen homes were heavily damaged or destroyed in the flooding. Reading time: 4 minutes.
HAIKU, Maui The aging Maui dam that overflowed on Monday, causing flooding and forcing evacuations downstream, had been the subject of enforcement action by state and county officials over the past year and is slated to be removed later this summer.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said Tuesday that owners of the Kaupakalua Dam were issued a notice of violation last month for failing to comply with safety requirements mandated by the state in February 2020.
Hawaii Declares State of Emergency After Heavy Rains, Floods, and Dam Overflow
Hawaii Governor David Ige declared an emergency in the state after heavy rains brought floods, landslides and fear of dam failures, prompting evacuations in at least two counties, while flood advisories stayed in effect for a second day.
The move came after a dam overflowed on the island of Maui, forcing evacuations and destroying homes, with the dam’s “unsatisfactory” condition leading to it being scheduled for removal this year, the land department has said. A bridge off Peahi Road is overcome by floodwaters above the Kaupakalua Reservoir and Dam after heavy rainfall in Haiku, Maui, Hawaii, on March 8, 2021. (Kehaulani Cerizo/The Maui News via AP)
kcerizo@mauinews.com
Muddy water overtopping intact Kaupakalua Dam in Haiku cascades in a waterfall to the gulch below Tuesday morning. According to a state report, the structure was in âunsatisfactoryâ overall condition before the flood hit, and a plan was underway to remove the dam this summer. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
HAIKU In a matter of hours Monday, Mark Alexander watched floodwaters begin to swallow up his home, vehicles, refrigerator, tools, mower and other belongings in Haiku.
He was able to save the family dog, Legend, who was rescued from a rooftop and taken to the vet where he was treated for fluid in the lungs, according to Alexander’s sister, Elena Alexander Nishizaki.