Department of Defense

Guard aviators rescue victims

The sound of an approaching Hawaii Army National Guard helicopter descending to a stranded Big Island resident are the sound of help. Another would-be: flood victim is rescued from his flooded home. On the evening of Nov. 17 and continuing into the morning of Nov. 18, rain poured continuously, flooding portions of the Big Island.

At the request of Big Island civil defense authorities, the Hawaii Army National Guard dispatched a helicopter into Waipio Valley, Nov. 18, to help evacuate residents. Army Guardsmen CW4 John Roney, SSgt. Ed Uratani and Sgt. Tetsuo Matsubara supported by Big Island soldiers, Maj. Delbert Nishimoto, 1st. Sgt. Yukimasa Tomono, MSgt. Douglas Tom and Sgt. Dennis Takahashi, flew the life-saving mission.

About 49 Waipio residents were endangered by the flooding and were evacuated by an UH-1H, “Huey” helicopter to the Army Guard’s Honokaa Armory. Eleven of the residents were temporarily housed there. The armory served as the Red Cross shelter for evacuees from Waipio.

Roads and bridges were washed out as a result of the flooding.

On Nov. 21, after the assessment and recommendation of Maj. Gen. Valentine A. Siefermann, Director, State Civil Defense, Gov. George R. Ariyoshi declared portions of the Big Island a major disaster area making affected residents eligible for state assistance.

This was the second time this year that flooding has caused extensive damage to the Big Island.

Earlier this year, when heavy rains damaged roads and caused flooding in the Big Island, an Army Guard helicopter was used to evacuate a Big Island resident in urgent need of medical attention.

At that time, Capt. Victor Chun, CW2 Ed Spencer and Sgt. Ronald Ueda flew the life saving mission from Pahala Hospital to Hilo Hospital when a patient was in need of special treatment.

– 1979 December Pūpūkahi pp. 5

Flooding on Hawaii and Maui required the call-up of Guard members to assist in evacuation and other emergency requirements. In December 1979, troops from the 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, located on Hawaii, evacuated residents of the flooded Waipio Valley using Hawaii Army Guard helicopters and ground transportation. Nineteen Guard members stayed on duty for two months from December 10, 1979 to February 5, 1980 to aid in the cleanup and restoration of the valley.

– 1980 Annual Report pp. 14

Guard equipment, people aid Waipio restoration

The State Departments of Defense, Transportation, Land and Natural Resources (Forestry Division), and Social Services and Housing (Kulani Correctional Facility) completed work on the restoration of Waipio Valley on the Big Island Feb. 4. The State agencies involved in the Waipio project were scheduled to leave Jan. 18 but Governor George R. Ariyoshi extended the deadline until Feb. 4 at the request of Hawaii County officials.

Restoration of the valley is being concentrated on the Wailoa and Hiilawe streams. Both streams overflowed during the Nov. 17 flooding and forced the evacuation of 49 residents. The flooding caused an estimated $500,000 in damages to taro fields, farm lands, homes and buildings. Some 110 acres of taro alone were destroyed by silt and debris carried by the flood waters.

In addition to supplying manpower the State agencies provided bulldozers and trucks to assist in the cleanup of Waipio Valley. The bulk of the manpower and equipment were provided by the Hawaii Army National Guard.

Much of the work completed earlier by theState crews was destroyed by the recent strong winds and rains. According to Mr. Hugh Ono, construction engineer, Department of Transportation, the State work crews had to start from scratch again due to storm damages, but to date, the crews have cleared all the debris in Hiilawe stream and about 70 percent of the debris in Wailoa stream.

Restoration of the valley initially began December 10, 1979, after the governor proclaimed the valley a disaster area. Funds for the work project, administered by State Civil Defense, are appropriated under the State’s Major Disaster Fund.

– 1980 February Pūpūkahi pp. 1

Three disasters keep SCD hopping

by Bill Roome
State Civil Defense

It has been approximately l00,000 years since Diamond Head Crater last erupted but one would get the impression that this majestic land mark was stirring or certainly restless by the rumblings going on in Birkhimer Tunnel, home of State Civil Defense (SCD).

Many of the SCD staff have been on the constant go since February 1979, handling surf, heavy rains and flooding, prompted President Jimmy Carter, at the request of Governor George R. Ariyoshi, to declare Maui County a major disaster area. To date, statewide damage estimates have surpassed $25 million. With the President’s declaration, Maui now is entitled to Federal disaster assistance funds and loans.

One of the first steps that will be taken by SCD in coordinating the statewide disaster assistance effort will be to brief concerned State and county agencies applying for public disaster relief. Once this is completed, a statewide survey of damaged public facilities will be conducted to develop detailed engineering reports of each damaged site or facility. Finally, the disaster assistance applications will be processed, and Federal funds will be disbursed through SCD.

Persons who suffered damages from the January storm will be able to apply for low interest loans through individual agencies such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Farmers Home Administration, and the State Department of Planning and Economic Development.

Earlier, a state disaster was declared by the Governor for the Big lsland in November 1979 following damaging heavy rains and flooding. In Waipio Valley alone, 49 persons were evacuated and many taro farms destroyed. Following emergency restoration work on the Waipio Valley stream by the Hawaii Army National Guard and other state agencies, SCD began to approve State and county requests for financial assistance to repair damaged public facilities.

And there’s more: although the February 1979 Presidential declaration disaster for Hawaii County may have been forgotten by many people, State Civil Defense still is busy processing requests for supplemental Federal disaster assistance and requests for cash advances on disaster work still in progress. SCD is also coordinating final inspection of completed disaster projects and reimbursements of State and Federal disaster funds.

The target date for completing restoration of Big Island public facilities damaged from the February 1979 disaster is late 1980. To date, there are no estimates as to when restoration will be complete following the November 1979 and January 1980 floods and storms.

– 1980 February Pūpūkahi pp. 4

Big Island storms claim lives; damage property

The past 14 months certainly have been disastrous for the people of Hawaii County. Various storms have claimed the lives of seven people, caused approximately $14 million in damages to public and private
property, and forced many residents to evacuate their homes during storm periods.

Gov. George R. Ariyoshi has declared the county a major disaster area four times. President Carter proclaimed the county a disaster area in February 1979 and has been asked to release federal funds to restore public facilities damaged during the March tempest.

Mother nature began her unbenign frenzy in February 1979. During that month, heavy rains deluged the island. quickly saturating the soil in many districts and causing extensive flooding. In a single 24-hour period, 22.3 inches of rain fell in the Hilo area. During a 10-day period, 250 families were evacuated.

When the sun finally reappeared, a total of 200 homes had suffered various degrees of damage. Approximately 300 people later applied for such disaster assistance as low-interest emergency loans and grants, and damage estimates reach $6 million. The governor declared a state disaster, triggering the release of $500,000 in restoration funds; President Carter followed by declaring Hawaii County a federal disaster area.

In November 1979, heavy rains once again inundated sections of the county, resulting in the governor declaring Puna, Ka ‘u, South and North Hilo. Hamakua, and South and North Kohala major disaster areas. One person lost his life during the storm and approximately 120 people were evacuated. A total of 49 persons from the Waipio Valley area alone were relocated and many taro farms in the valley were destroyed.

The National Gaurd was quickly sent into the valley following the storm to clear debris and to rechannel water back into the Wailoa and Hiilawe Streams. Total damage to public and private property was $4 million.

In January of this year, the entire state was subjected to a tempest that left behind damages totaling some $27 million. Three people lost their lives in Hawaii County and about $300,000 in damages was recorded. A state disaster was declared for all counties.

The latest mayhem to strike Hawaii County occurred this March. claiming three more lives and inundating many districts on the windward side of the island. Damage estimates for the county continue to come in to the State Civil Defense Division, with the latest tallies exceeding $3 million.

According to Steve Philben, SCD disaster assistance planner, some structures, such as the Waiohinu flood project, were severely damaged and repaired following the February storm; and then again were damaged in the March disaster.

The governor has already declared the Big Island a major disaster area and has asked the President again to declare Hawaii County a federal disaster area. lf this request is approved, Hawaii County will be eligible for federal funds to restore public facilities, such as roads, water and drainage facilities.

-Bil Roome
Civil Defense

– 1980 June Pūpūkahi pp. 6

House commends Guard

The Hawaii National Guard was recognized by the House of Representatives for its efforts in assisting the Waipio flood victims on the Big Island during storms in March.

The resolution, H. R. 205, commended the Guard and other state agencies for their assistance in providing equipment and personnel to clear debris which was obstructing roads, streams, and farmland.

A copy of the resolution was forwarded to Maj. Gen. Valentine A. Siefermann, adjutant general.

– 1980 June Pūpūkahi pp. 8