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Floods bring declaration of disaster
State and city officials begin organizing disaster recovery and rebuilding programs
STORY SUMMARY | READ THE FULL STORYHelp is on the way for Oahu flood victims.
The governor proclaimed a state disaster yesterday, and Mayor Mufi Hannemann is expected to declare a disaster today, in response to the damage wrought by Thursday's storm.
But Oahu is not in the clear yet. Heavy showers could continue for Oahu, Kauai and Niihau through the weekend as a low-pressure system sits far north of the islands, the National Weather Service said.
A flash flood warning was canceled for Oahu last night, but flooding might persist due to the saturated ground.
FULL STORY >>
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 13, 2008
The governor proclaimed a state of disaster yesterday for Kauai, Maui and Honolulu counties to jump-start the recovery from damage caused by Thursday's storm, as people hit hard by flooding worked to clean up the muck.
But the cleanup was complicated by the lingering storm system. Lightning lit up the skies in Waianae, and roads in West, North and Central Oahu flooded anew last night, as the entire island was under a flash flood warning until 9:30 p.m.
Outside their Farrington Highway home in Makaha, the Tabangcura family piled up their Christmas tree and other household items destroyed Thursday during the storm. Their home was flooded in the deluge.
"We're just glad we're all right and our pets are OK," Arlette Tabangcura, 44, said yesterday. "The stuff, we can replace it," she said, noting that neighbors lost five puppies.
She and her husband are concerned with finding a place to live, and know their five children understand that this Christmas might be without presents.
"Christmas is coming around, but we got to take care of what we got to take care of," Tabangcura said.
The family and friends and relatives spent yesterday cleaning out the mud, hanging up salvaged photos on the clothesline and spending $200 washing all their clothes at the laundromat.
Offers have poured in from friends, family and co-workers. "We've been blessed," she said.
Gov. Linda Lingle's state disaster proclamation provides resources for disaster response and recovery. The resources could include activation of the Hawaii National Guard and access to housing relief and loan programs for people whose homes or businesses suffered damage as a result of the storm.
The city, meanwhile, has also begun damage assessment operations to provide Mayor Mufi Hannemann with information so that he may issue a mayoral disaster declaration.
Oahu residents can call the city if they have emergency shelter needs; debris removal needs; damage to homes and businesses; clogged streams or drains; damage to roads, bridges or public buildings; and other types of damage. The city's hot line is 768-4385 and is open today and tomorrow until 4 p.m. and Monday to Friday 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Three Red Cross shelters remained opened last night.
State Civil Defense Vice Director Ed Teixeira said four teams were sent out and reported significant damage to six homes in Waialua, two in Waianae and one in Wahiawa.
David Burgess and his family shoveled and scraped the mud from inside their house in Lualualei, which lies about 150 yards from a stream.
"It was a real flash of water," he said of the flood. "Never seen the water come out of the river like that."
"Half of everything is gone," he said. "Emotionally, it goes up and down. I don't know exactly what I've lost."
The governor proclaimed a state of disaster yesterday for Kauai, Maui and Honolulu counties to jump-start the recovery from damage caused by Thursday's storm, as people hit hard by flooding worked to clean up the muck.
But the cleanup was complicated by the lingering storm system. Lightning lit up the skies in Waianae, and roads in West, North and Central Oahu flooded anew last night, as the entire island was under a flash flood warning until 9:30 p.m.
Outside their Farrington Highway home in Makaha, the Tabangcura family piled up their Christmas tree and other household items destroyed Thursday during the storm. Their home was flooded in the deluge.
"We're just glad we're all right and our pets are OK," Arlette Tabangcura, 44, said yesterday. "The stuff, we can replace it," she said, noting that neighbors lost five puppies.
She and her husband are concerned with finding a place to live, and know their five children understand that this Christmas might be without presents.
"Christmas is coming around, but we got to take care of what we got to take care of," Tabangcura said.
The family and friends and relatives spent yesterday cleaning out the mud, hanging up salvaged photos on the clothesline and spending $200 washing all their clothes at the laundromat.
Offers have poured in from friends, family and co-workers. "We've been blessed," she said.
Gov. Linda Lingle's state disaster proclamation provides resources for disaster response and recovery. The resources could include activation of the Hawaii National Guard and access to housing relief and loan programs for people whose homes or businesses suffered damage as a result of the storm.
The city, meanwhile, has also begun damage assessment operations to provide Mayor Mufi Hannemann with information so that he may issue a mayoral disaster declaration.
Oahu residents can call the city if they have emergency shelter needs; debris removal needs; damage to homes and businesses; clogged streams or drains; damage to roads, bridges or public buildings; and other types of damage. The city's hot line is 768-4385 and is open today and tomorrow until 4 p.m. and Monday to Friday 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Three Red Cross shelters remained opened last night.
State Civil Defense Vice Director Ed Teixeira said four teams were sent out and reported significant damage to six homes in Waialua, two in Waianae and one in Wahiawa.
David Burgess and his family shoveled and scraped the mud from inside their house in Lualualei, which lies about 150 yards from a stream.
"It was a real flash of water," he said of the flood. "Never seen the water come out of the river like that."
"Half of everything is gone," he said. "Emotionally, it goes up and down. I don't know exactly what I've lost."
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