LIHU‘E — Residents of Wainiha do face the possibility of being isolated in a severe weather event, and should have their emergency evacuation plans in place so that they can get out before the highway becomes impassable, said Mark Marshall,
LIHU‘E — Residents of Wainiha do face the possibility of being isolated in a severe weather event, and should have their emergency evacuation plans in place so that they can get out before the highway becomes impassable, said Mark Marshall, emergency management officer at the county Civil Defense agency.
“The benefit of where they are located is that there is high ground that is accessible by foot as a last resort if they don’t get out before the road becomes impassable,” he said Friday. “Also, homes back there should be built to flood standards and should be able to withstand even severe weather like we’re experiencing.”
Being isolated in Wainiha and Ha‘ena is extremely rare, according to county officials.
Marshall said that even during the 40 days of rain during the Ka Loko Dam breach on March 14, 2006 the Wainiha area was isolated for a “relatively short period of time, perhaps 12 hours or so.”
He said he remembers that happening only a couple of times in the 10-plus years he has been on Kaua‘i.
County spokeswoman Beth Tokioka said the administration has heavy equipment, rescue equipment and manpower staged north of the Hanalei Bridge, and if the situation called for they could attempt an evacuation depending on the circumstances.
