HILO — Hawaii County began damage assessments after windward areas were walloped by days of torrential rain and severe flooding from Tropical Storm Lane.
Mayor Harry Kim said the assessments will help determine if the county qualifies for federal aid to repair roads and other public infrastructure, as well as determine whether residents qualify for individual assistance programs through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
He said he had never seen so much rainfall, which set records and exceeded 40 inches in some windward areas.
“This was a phenomenal experience, what this island went through,” Kim said.
Flooding from Lane, previously a hurricane, was so extensive Friday evening, that three major highways were closed at one time, Managing Director Wil Okabe noted.
The flooding and debris left roads potholed and weakened in some places.
He said Civil Defense fielded 170 calls from residents reporting property damage on Saturday by the afternoon.
“We anticipate maybe 200 by the end of the night and we might exceed even more,” Okabe said.
The storm was a one-two punch for an island already recovering from a devastating eruption, that may or may not be over.
More than 700 homes have been destroyed by lava from Kilauea’s East Rift Zone. On Saturday, a small lava pond sat deep inside fissure 8 within Leilani Estates.
More than $30 million in federal grants and loans were approved through programs for residents affected by that disaster.
“People on the Big Island are very resilient,” Okabe noted.
Residents needing cleanup assistance from the storm can call 643-5555, he said.
The Hawaii Fire Department remained busy with rescues the past few days.
Kazuo Todd, fire battalion chief, said Saturday morning that 39 people had been rescued or assisted by the department in the previous 24 hours.
He said many of the rescues or assists were for people trapped in homes, while some were stranded in vehicles. The National Guard helped the department rescue people from three vehicles in Hawaiian Acres.
Todd said the department was performing aerial surveys, and a 35-man search and rescue team was expected to arrive from Oahu on Saturday morning.
Flooding occurred from Kohala to Ka‘u, though no injuries or fatalities were known by Saturday afternoon.
Kim said he directed personnel to focus on life and safety missions. The last search-and-rescue mission occurred Saturday morning, he noted.
Kim said the whole state should learn from this event.
“We have to learn from this,” he said, noting it could have been worse, particularly if the island and other parts of the state took a direct hit.
“It’s frightening when you think about it,” Kim said.
Janet Snyder, a spokeswoman with the Mayor’s Office, said two homes were destroyed in Hawaiian Acres.
The flooding caught some by surprise. Areas that never saw a trickle of surface water became raging streams.
Garry Pammer flew in from the mainland Friday evening to find his Paukaa home heavily damaged by flooding. He said the lower level filled to about 4 feet before the water knocked out a wall from the foundation and drained out the side.
“This is what Lane does to a home,” he said, as he showed a reporter and photographer the damage.
The floor was caked in mud and large furniture appeared to have been tossed about as the water was quickly released.
“It’s just overwhelming power,” Pammer said.
Uphill from him, a Hawaii County sewer pump station overflowed, though he didn’t know if he was hit with wastewater, or how much.
The county Department of Environmental Management said 4,170 gallons had been spilled. The station exceeded capacity due to high water flows.
Pammer said he didn’t have insurance but planned to check with FEMA if he qualifies for aid.
“We were just thinking we got our home the way we wanted it,” he said, shocked by what he saw.
Between Papaikou and Paukaa, the Todd family awoke early Friday to find a 30-foot-deep sinkhole in their backyard where a culvert used to be.
“This is just going back to nature, for sure,” said Ben Todd, who noted a previous owner had filled in what was a creek bed.
The hole goes up almost to the home’s back lanai.
Ben Todd said the family was staying in a hotel until the storm passes.
His father, Ray Todd, said they were expecting the landlord to do an engineering assessment to ensure the home, which sustained some flooding as well, is safe.
“As long as we don’t lose our lemon tree, we’ll be fine,” he said with a laugh.
By Saturday evening, multiple road closures or lane restrictions were in effect, including on Highway 11 near Kurtistown, Mountain View and Volcano, and Highway 19 at various spots along the Hamakua Coast.
Bayfront highway also remained closed in Hilo.
More flooding can occur today. A flash flood watch was expected to remain in effect until 6 p.m.
•••
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
