“The current climate situation has created a very dangerous flood situation across Maui County, especially in eastern Maui,” Maui Mayor Mike Victorino said during a news conference on Monday afternoon. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is a real flood situation that we haven’t seen in a long time,” adding that some residents have told him that this is the worst flood they have seen in over 25 years.
Heavy rains caused water at the Kaupakalua dam in Haiku to peak on Monday, and to break out at around 3:21 pm local time, according to a Maui County statement.
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency ordered the evacuation of people downstream and three shelters were opened for those in need.
The National Weather Service said additional heavy rains could lead to a short-term flood warning for areas downstream of the dam and advised residents to follow instructions provided by Maui emergency management officials.
The governor said he was ready to assist in the area during evacuations.
“” The state is on standby to support Maui County as residents and visitors downstream of the Kaupakulua dam evacuate at this time. Please stay out of the area until the danger passes and continue to monitor the local media for updates, “Hawaii Governor David Ige said in a statement.
All Maui County parks have been closed until further notice because of heavy rains and floods, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced.
Residents describe flooding
Carmen Gardner told CNN that she has lived in the area for 40 years and has never seen such a severe flood.
She recorded videos showing how fast and strong the water flooded the area. She said she was safe above the Kaupakalua dam.
“The winter of 88-89 was some flooding during torrential rain, but never close to that,” she told CNN. “The Kaupakalua road looked like the Colorado River. It is below us, but there is a flood underway at the bottom (bottom) of our property that appears to have already destroyed one of the unallowed structures they rented.”
Gardner said the rents below it appeared to be “heavily damaged”.
Ana Paula DeCarlo told CNN that her family was safe, although they were stranded at home due to the destruction of the road. She recorded a video that shows the water running down the road that used to have a small stream underneath it.
“Yes, it’s like a bridge, small over a stream,” she said of the road. “It didn’t stop raining for a second. We are about 15 minutes from the dam.”
“This is our street now. We can’t go anywhere. The street is gone, gone! ”, She posted on Instagram.
CNN meteorologist Michael Guy and Amanda Jackson contributed to this report.