LIHUE — At least 115 homes were destroyed and more than 530 damaged statewide by April’s record-setting rains, and in Washington D.C., legislators are trying to help homeowners.
Thursday, a bipartisan bill was introduced at the Capitol that calls for a review of Federal Emergency Management Agency’s home-buying program in flood-prone areas.
“FEMA is working to help homeowners through voluntary buyouts, but that process can take years and it leaves homeowners and taxpayers at risk,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), one of the bill’s co-authors.
“We have a fiscal and a moral obligation to make sure this program works efficiently and helps as many people as possible, and that’s what our bill will do,” he said.
On Kauai, the extent of the damage is still being reviewed from the floods that dropped nearly 50 inches of rain over a 24-hour period, according to a Waipa gauge on the North Shore.
If certified, that amount of rain will break the current record of 43 inches hit in Texas in 1979.
During the April 14-15 storm, the Hanalei River flooded and rerouted through Black Pot Beach, washing out access and causing sinkholes in Weke Road.
A month later, on May 15, Kauai County completed demolition of the restroom building at the beach which was destroyed when the river flooded. Three vehicles that were buried in the sand in the area were removed as well.
“Plans are to reconstruct the road, and the county is in the permitting process,” said Lyle Tabata, acting county engineer.
“Once the permits are issued, we will begin construction. The permitting process may take up to three months. We will keep the public informed when we begin any construction work,” said Tabata.
Several homes along Hanalei Bay, especially near Weke Road, collapsed. Some ended up in the bay. Anahola homes sustained heavy flood damage and some homes in Koloa did as well, and state and county officials have been offering services and information to flood-affected homeowners.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources, National Flood Insurance Program and County of Kauai have offered informational sessions for flood-impacted homeowners in Koloa, Hanalei and Anahola.
Meanwhile, the bill introduced to Congress by sponsors Schatz, Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) aims for a comprehensive review of the FEMA program to reduce flood risk and taxpayer exposure by buying homes from property owners in flood-prone areas.
