Hawaii Faces Severe Flooding and Dam Threat, Thousands Evacuate
Roughly 5,500 people were ordered to evacuate and the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam was deemed at imminent risk, while a statewide flood watch runs through the afternoon of March 22, officials said.
The Gateway Pundit230 Rescued as Severe Flooding Strikes Hawaii, 5,500 Ordered to Evacuate as Dam Faces "Imminent Failure" | The Gateway Pundit | by Anthony Scott
The GuardianHawaii urges residents to ‘leave now’ amid worst flooding in over 20 years
BBC NewsThousands evacuated as Hawaii faces worst flooding in 20 years
Al JazeeraFlash flooding swamps Hawaii, prompting evacuation orders for 5,500 people
Overview
Officials ordered about 5,500 people north of Honolulu to evacuate and warned the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam was at imminent risk of failure, emergency alerts said.
Two Kona low storms dropped as much as 8 to 12 inches in parts of Oahu on saturated ground, prompting a statewide flood watch through the afternoon of March 22, officials said.
Governor Josh Green said the storm's cost could top $1 billion and that his chief of staff had spoken to the White House about federal support, he said at a news conference.
Roughly 200 to 230 people have been rescued and 72 children and adults were airlifted from a youth camp, while about 10 people were hospitalized with hypothermia, officials said.
Authorities warned more rain was expected and said the remaining access road out of Waialua was at high risk of failure if rainfall continued, officials said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this story neutrally, relying on attributed facts, officials’ statements and expert context. They use measured language (evacuation orders, flood watch), attribute stronger characterizations to quoted officials (“catastrophic”), include climate-expert context and company responses about the dam, and avoid partisan framing or ideological assertions.
FAQ
The Wahiawā Dam was constructed in 1906 by the Waialua Sugar Company for irrigation. It previously failed in 1921 due to a flood and was rebuilt. It is currently owned by Sustainable Hawaii, Inc. and Dole Food Company Hawaii, classified as a high hazard potential dam.
The dam's 183-foot-wide spillway has a capacity of 16,300 cfs, insufficient for a 100-year storm (17,800 cfs) or probable maximum flood (105,000 cfs), risking overtopping and failure. Drawdown capacity is limited with only one operational 20-inch gated intake.
About 5,500 people north of Honolulu were ordered to evacuate due to the imminent dam failure risk. Roughly 200-230 people were rescued, 72 from a youth camp by airlift, and 10 hospitalized for hypothermia.
Two Kona low storms dropped 8 to 12 inches of rain on already saturated ground, leading to widespread flooding and a statewide flood watch through March 22 afternoon.
Governor Josh Green estimated costs over $1 billion and contacted the White House for federal support. The last access road out of Waialua risks failure with continued rain.
