Over 4,000 told to evacuate flooding in Hawaii as officials warn 120-year-old dam could fail

[highplainsdem]

Source: AP via NPR

HONOLULU (AP) — Muddy floodwaters from severe rains inundated streets, pushed homes off their foundations, swallowed vehicles and prompted evacuation orders for thousands of residents in towns north of Honolulu on Friday as officials warned of the possible failure of a 120-year-old dam.

Emergency sirens blared along Oahu's North Shore, where rising waters damaged homes in a community world-renowned for its surfing. Honolulu officials told residents at 5:35 a.m. Friday to leave the area downstream of Wahiawa dam, saying it was "at risk of imminent failure."

There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, but firefighters and lifeguards on jet skis were searching flood waters for people who had been stranded, said Ian Scheuring, a spokesperson for Honolulu.

"We do have reports of homes being swept away," he said. But the agency doesn't know how many. The evacuation order asked fleeing residents to carpool because of heavy traffic.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5755105/hawaii-evacuations-flooding-dam-failure

[SheltieLover]

1. I hope Cha & other DUers in Hawaii are safe!

[mcar]

5. Was just coming on to post that

[Cha]

10. Mahalo mcar.. We're safe over here

on Kauai but so feeling the heartbreak and devastation for the People on Oahu.. Honolulu and the North Shore.

Aloha~💔 ☮️🌻🕯️🕊️💜

[mcar]

14. So glad you are OK

Blessings on those in danger.

[Deuxcents]

6. There were a couple of posts telling us about them getting so much rain but haven't seen a post in a couple of days

[SheltieLover]

7. Oh, gawd. I hope they are ok!

[Cha]

9. Aloha & Mahalo Sheltie... and TY for letting

me know about this news and thread.

This is so sad for those in the path and affected by the Torrential Rains and Crazy Flooding! 💔 ☮️🌻🕯️🕊️💜

I'm on Kauai so we got a lot of insane rain and flooding yesterday but noting like this.

I just happen to have to be out in it, though.. so I got the full effect.

[SheltieLover]

11. Cha!!!!!

So glad you are ok!!!

Sorry to hear you were out in it, but glad you're safe!

I hope everyone else is safe, too!

Have you heard from msongs?.I think GAOT said they live on the affected island.

Mahalo and aloha! 🌺

[Cha]

12. Hey, Sheltie.. msong does live

on Oahu... and Honolulu I think but don't know if they're on the Noth Shore. ?

Hope they're safe and sound and all those People... how Scary, Shocking, and Devastating for them.

I had a good reason to be out there.. I needed to get to the bus stop to go watch my granddaughter.. and it's quite a ways. Then when I got there I got on the wrong bus that was going in the Opposite Direction.

So the first stop I got off and walked even further back to my original stop. I was soaking wet even with an umbrella and rain gear, but determined to get to my granddaughter's house!

☮️🌻🕯️🕊️💜

[SheltieLover]

13. I didn't even know they lived in Hawaii.

Yes. Horrible & I hope everyone is safe!

Lol. Yup I know love is a powerful motivator.

Aloha & mahalo for checking in! 🌺

[Cha]

15. That it is, friend!🌺❤️

[kimbutgar]

2. I almost booked a trip to Hawaii for this week

But I didn’t want to deal with the being unsure of flying and the TSA hassle.

That said I hope the Hawaiians stay safe.

[AZJonnie]

3. Damn! We were just there last September.

North Shore I mean, had lunch in Waialua which it looks like is RIGHT in the path. SUCH an awesome town!!!

We decided we want to live in Lanakai on the East Shore, however. Cozy little area that's *totally* in our price range

Anyways, safe vibes going out to everyone up there, and PLEASE don't let it break!!!

[electric_blue68]

4. Yikes! Hopefully it won't, but bad stuff already

[Cha]

8. Ohh... This So Heartbreaking...

💔 ☮️🌻🕯️🕊️💜

Hoping for the Very Best for People being affected by the Raging Rain Storms and Flooding!!

And Hoping the Wahiawa dam Holds and does Not break

I'm on Kauai and we had a Gully Washer all day and night yesterday.. I was out in it because I had to catch a bus to care for my granddaughter and on the way home too.

But now it seems mild seeing what Honolulu People are going through.

Mahalo, hpd

[Deuxcents]

16. The whole island is under flood warnings n watches..my local weather station just reported it

[waterwatcher123]

17. Wishing Everyone on Oʻahu the Best.

We are on the Big Island where the electricity was just restored after a week long outage. But, it is nothing compared to the heart breaking pictures coming out of Oahu.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

18. My son and DIL are in Ewa Beach area...South and West of Pearl Harbor.

They are safe.

Oahu is the most populated island of close to 900,000. Surrounded by mountains, there are not much open spaces that are capable of sustaining people. I was just there in January and the weather was glorious. My son and I took a drive to that part of the island and its beauty was breathtaking. We also went up to the North Shore on MLK day as well.

The H-1 and H-3 are the main transportation routes. Bumper to bumper traffic is a problem there. The Busses and Light rail from where my son lives to the airport offer little relief. It is a mess.

Makes me wonder how fast FEMA will act or not at all.

[Bengus81]

19. I talk to my brother weekly,he's on the other side in Kailua

Rain,rain and more rain for weeks over there.