Storm sweeps Hawaii, brings threat of 'catastrophic' floods

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By CALEB JONES

HONOLULU (AP) — A strong storm packing high winds and extremely heavy rain flooded roads and knocked out power across Hawaii, with officials warning Monday of potentially worse conditions ahead.

The National Weather Service said the storm brings the threat of “catastrophic flooding” in the coming days as a low pressure system slowly moves from east to west and lingered on the edge of the archipelago.

“Now is the time to make sure you have an emergency plan in place and supplies ready should you need to move away from rising water,” said Gov. David Ige, who issued a state of emergency for all of the state’s islands Monday night.

On Oahu, where four shelters had been opened, most of the beaches in Waikiki were empty Monday as only a few people walked with umbrellas during passing heavy showers. Roadways were flooding in the area and cars crept through downtown as water gushed out of manhole covers.



People hold umbrellas as it begins to rain on an otherwise empty beach in Honolulu on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. A strong storm packing high winds and extremely heavy rain flooded roads and downed power lines and tree branches across Hawaii, with officials warning Monday of potentially worse conditions ahead. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/floods-environment-and-nature-storms-hawaii-weather-d39d4b8535729981577758dc3223a5a4

[Scrivener7]

1. What a picture! Be safe, our Hawaiian friends!

[MissMillie]

2. I heard they were bracing for nightmarish weather

I hope everyone can find a way to stay safe.

[DFW]

3. Waikiki is not a place to be if tide surges are a danger

It has fairly flat beaches and its coast is nearly wall-to-wall hotels whose lobbies could be ruined in a minute. This is not Waipio. It is densely populated. I hope my daughter’s old high school is safe. It is 2000 feet up the side of an extinct volcano, so high winds may affect them even if the water doesn’t.

Besides, our daughters want us to hold our 70-70-40 celebration there next year. My wife and I will both turn 70 and be married 40 years. They want to pick the venue, and decided on Hawai’i. It’s a toss up between Waikiloa and Princeville, i.e. Big Island or Kaua’i. I wanted the Seychelles, which is closer for us and our younger daughter, but far less convenient for the USA-based family. But all that is contingent on Hawai’i being intact when we get there!

We are lucky to have a Democratic team in place in Washington, so that any disaster aid, if needed, will come sooner, rather than waiting for the next Republican governor.

[mahina]

5. We're fine DFW

And congrats on your upcoming celebration, wherever you hold it. Aloha.

[DFW]

6. Good to hear--keep it that way!

People hundreds of miles away from Indonesia thought they were safe from the Tsunami until it washed them away, too, so remain vigilant.

I suspect our little gathering will be in Princeville. We've stayed in Poipu, and our daughter went to school in Waimea ("Kamuela" ) on the Big island. For graduation, we rented a big house (owned by, of all people, Germans!) in the Mauna Lani compound. As our family Kama'aina, she would decide on where to stay, and although I love the Mauna Lani, she would like to try the rebuilt Mauna Kea, or some other place near Hapuna, if we stay on the Big island. I've never been to Princeville. It seemed a lot more low key than Waikoloa, but that's just from pics and reviews, so what do I know? Besides, there will be a LOT of us, so we need to start thinking about this like NOW. Our two daughters and their families, my brother and his family (we had a double wedding) and his two sons and THEIR families, and probably my sister and her husband. They didn't even know each other when my brother and I got married, but she did sing at the wedding, and she IS our sister. I hope no one is expecting a big inheritance after I pick up the bill for THIS little party!

There have been some scary helicopter crashes of late, but another ride down the Waimea Canyon with a run up and down the Na Pali coast might be too much of a temptation to resist. Before I saw the Na Pali Coast from the air, I didn't know there were THAT many shades of blue!

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. Wow! That's crazy!

I have a friend lives in Hilo on the big island and they're just getting a bit of rain.

[DFW]

7. That is good to hear

My daughter's school and most of her friends that still live there are on the Big island, although I understand that the weather on the Hilo side can be completely different from the Kona side.