Torrential mauka rains turned streets and roads into rivers in Kailua-Kona Friday afternoon as home and business owners and motorists confronted flash floods in numerous areas. ADVERTISING Torrential mauka rains turned streets and roads into rivers in Kailua-Kona Friday afternoon
Torrential mauka rains turned streets and roads into rivers in Kailua-Kona Friday afternoon as home and business owners and motorists confronted flash floods in numerous areas.
Kuakini Highway and Hualalai Road became avenues for swift-moving brown waters, waist-deep in some areas, with police and fire personnel scrambling to close roadways to keep drivers out of danger.
A handful of roads remained closed as of Friday evening, including Hualalai Road and areas of Kuakini Highway.
Minor flooding was reported in several residences in low-lying areas. A water main along Kuakini Highway was damaged, and crews were working to clear roadways of debris Friday evening, said Hawaii County Fire Department Battalion Chief Joseph Farias.
The bulk of the flooding had subsided by 5:20 p.m., Farias said, but emergency response crews remained on alert as rain continued in mauka regions.
Barney Sheffield, Big Island disaster coordinator for the American Red Cross, said the agency was on standby but had not received any requests for shelter as a result of the flood waters.
Hawaii County Civil Defense said there had been no requests for shelters, but they had surveyed several areas.
The flooding on Hualalai Road was reminiscent of Aug. 18, with brown water covering the road in long ripples that flared over chunks of wood and other detritus. It poured into and over the storm drain on the north side, the water continued tearing down the ditch into the nearby street.
The force also covered the shoulder and began to creep into the center lane under the watch of a county Public Works worker.
This all came during a flash flood warning that was set to run until 9 p.m. Friday. At 5:39 p.m., radar showed heavy rain from Kailua-Kona to Keauhou. At the time, the area of heavy rain was moving southeast slowly.
The state also issued a statewide brown water advisory.
“The public is advised to stay out of the flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals and associated flood debris. Not all coastal areas may be impacted by the runoff. However, if the water is brown stay out,” the advisory said.
Prep sports also felt the effect of the storm.
The football game of Konawaena and Hilo high schools at Konawaena was canceled.
