Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency

6:30 A.M. UPDATE: Flood response and recovery efforts continue; Flash Flood Watch issued for Kaua‘i starting Thursday

The Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operations Center remains fully activated, coordinating with county, state, federal, and non-governmental partners for response and recovery efforts.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the island of Kaua‘i from Thursday until at least Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding.

“While this system isn’t expected to be as severe as the last one, we will be keeping a close eye on the weather and make the necessary adjustments to keep all our people and visitors safe,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.

The U.S. Army, National Guard, and the County of Kaua‘i have airlifted over 340 people from the Hā‘ena and Wainiha area since Monday. Those who need to be evacuated may go to the Camp Naue landing zone between approximately 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, weather permitting.

Those who wish to be evacuated are advised that it is unknown at this time when they can return home, as landslides continue to block access along Kūhiō Highway between Waikoko and Wainiha.

For those who wish to shelter in place, Camp Naue and the Hanalei Colony Resort have been serving as distribution points for food, water and other provisions.

Multi-agency relief efforts are continuing for residents and visitors stranded in the isolated communities of Hā‘ena and Wainiha. National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, Kaua‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Police Department, American Medical Response, the American Red Cross, along with Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers and other partners are working together to provide essential public safety services, food, water and supplies into Wainiha and Hā‘ena. Hawai‘i Air Ambulance also responded on Monday with medical assistance.

The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative reports about a dozen storm-related outages scattered throughout the North Shore. The largest cluster is near the Hanalei pier. Earlier Tuesday, there was outage for about a dozen customers on Ala Eke Road in Wainiha. KIUC crews were able to clear trees from the line and restore power to the area’s customers.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, County of Kaua‘i, and federal agencies continue to clear and repair Kūhiō Highway between Lumaha‘i and Wainiha.

The clearing of debris on the Lumahai end will continue, while crews are repairing the two structurally-damaged areas. Crews are working with contractors in the Wainiha area to start clearing out that end as well. Six larger landslides and six smaller landslides have been discovered and thousands of pounds of mud, trees, and debris must be cleared from the roadway to allow passage by vehicle. A definitive timeframe has not been established.

The Department of Public Works Roads crew responded to the Kōloa area to clear mud and debris from several roadways, and assisted homeowners with disposing of oversized items.

Donations are currently being accepted at the following locations:
· Food Bank of Hawai‘i – Kaua‘i Branch (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
· Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
· Kīlauea Neighborhood Center (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
· Kōloa Neighborhood Center (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Accepted items are limited to:
· Non-perishables;
· Bottled water;
· Cleaning supplies
· Hygiene items;
· Diapers;
· Baby food and formula.

The Kīlauea Neighborhood Center is currently open as a Red Cross shelter.
Fo r people leaving the area between Kīlauea and Hanalei, the Kaua‘i Bus is allowing free service and will also allow luggage on board. The carry-on policy will be waived for those leaving the disaster area.

Hanalei Elementary will remain closed for all students on Wednesday, April 18, and anticipates reopening on Thursday, April 19, due to flood damage caused by recent heavy rains.

The Hanalei refuse transfer station is currently accepting all debris up to three feet in length. Furniture and beds longer than three feet in length are being accepted.

The Kapa‘a refuse transfer station green waste site is closed today, but other services are still available. All other refuse transfer station green waste sites are fully operational.

Current road closures include the following:

· Kūhiō Highway at the Wailua River Bridge will have temporary lane closures from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 4 a.m. Wednesday in order to remove debris from the river. One lane in both directions will remain open.
· Kuhio Highway, between Waikoko and Wainiha, due to multiple landslides;
· A portion of Kahiliholo Road in Kilauea;
· Lei o Papa Road in Princeville due to a sinkhole;
· Hanalei Plantation Road in Princeville remains closed due to a sinkhole; and
· Weke Road in the vicinity of Black Pot each remains closed;

For updates on road conditions and closures, please call 241-1725. Please do not call Kaua‘i police 911 unless you have an emergency. Damage to roads, highways, bridges and other infrastructure may be reported to the KEMA EOC at 241-1800.

The Department of Water (DOW) has issued a “do not drink” advisory for customers located along a portion of Weke Road, from Pilikoa Street to the Makai-end of Weke road towards Black Pot Beach in Hanalei. DOW crews have repaired a portion of a damaged main line to restore water to the affected area; however, due to the exposure to the service lines from recent damage, residents along the described portion of Weke Road in Hanalei are advised not to drink or cook with tap water, as a precautionary measure, until further notice. DOW urges residents to please share this information with other residents and guests that reside in the affected portion of Weke Road in Hanalei.

The water conservation notice from Princeville Utilities Co., Inc. continues for all its customers in Princeville, Anini Vista, Kalihiwai Bay Estates, Kapaka Road and Hanalei Plantation Road. Please be advised that as the pipe empties, it is possible that some air or sediment may enter your home plumbing. When turning on your faucet after water service is restored, please allow your water to run until it is clear to ensure flushing of any air or sediment from your plumbing.

The Department of Health is advising the following:
Stay out of brown water: Kaua‘i remains under a brown water advisory. Testing is ongoing around the island and results may be available later today. If you must enter brown water along coastlines or in areas where water has pooled due to flooding, take precautions to cover any open wounds or injuries, and be sure to wash and rinse thoroughly with soap and clean water afterwards.

Practice good sanitation: Wash your hands often with soap and clean water to prevent spreading and contracting any illnesses, especially before handling and preparing food to avoid food contamination. If soap and clean water is unavailable, hand sanitizer may be used instead.

Food safety tips: Make sure to throw away spoiled or unrefrigerated food to prevent foodborne illnesses. Minimize the presence of flies and rodents by disposing of food in covered and sealed containers.

Additional resource links are now available at ready.hawaii.gov:

· Flood Damage Claims FAQ
o https://dod.hawaii.gov/…/flood-damage-claims-frequently-ask…/
· Repairing Your Flooded Home
o https://dod.hawaii.gov/…/resource-from-the-american-red-cro…/
· Hawaii Department of Health advises residents and visitors to avoid or limit exposure to flood waters
o https://dod.hawaii.gov/…/hawaii-department-of-health-advise…/
FlightRestrictionArea

The Federal Aviation Agency has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction for the above marked areas in the Hanalei and Wainiha area, particularly restricting all aircraft and UAS (drones). Please avoid the area to help ensure the safety our first responders during their ongoing emergency operations.
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