Damage Assessment Begins as "Kona Low" Moves West

December 9, 2021 at 5:00 am tdemartini

On Wednesday, December 8, State and County teams began assessing damage from the “Kona Low” weather system.

The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) worked with the Maui Emergency Management Agency and the local chapter of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) to assess damage, flying a sortie from Kahului Airport in a single-engine fixed wing aircraft. The CAP took aerial photographs of several damaged areas of Maui, including the Kihei area, but was unable to photograph the Kula region because of cloud cover. Another flight is expected to assess that area Thursday, weather permitting.

The weather system dumped more than 20 inches of rain on areas of Hawaiʻi, at as much as 3 inches an hour. It caused widespread flooding, power outages, landslides, and damage. While some lingering power outages are still being fixed, HI-EMA urges those who can safely access damaged property to quickly document the damage and contact your insurance company as soon as possible.

County and state emergency managers also plan to send out damage assessment teams in the coming days to document the storm damage.

For insurance purposes, residents are asked to take video or photographs of flood damage before cleaning up. Photos and other documentation will be needed if funding becomes available to assist with recovery from the storm. After documenting any damages, residents should begin cleanup immediately. There is no need to wait for a flood insurance adjuster or inspector.

Those affected by the storm are encouraged to follow the guidelines below:

Make sure the electricity and gas are shut off to avoid fire or harm.
Wear heavy boots, gloves, and goggles during cleanup as your home may be contaminated with mold or sewage.
Be aware of hidden structural damage. Floodwater may have weakened roads and building foundations.
Avoid wading in floodwater which may be hiding debris, contaminated with sewage, or electrically charged.
Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Use generators, pressure washers, or other gasoline- powered machinery outdoors at least 20 feet from doors, windows, or vents.

Each County has online tools to report residential and business damage. These forms are used only to collect information that will help local officials understand the damage that occurred and impacts on the community. Those tools can be found here.

Additionally, a statewide Crisis Cleanup line has been activated for those impacted by flooding from the recent storm. If you need volunteers to help with cleanup or debris removal, please dial 2-1-1 and request cleanup assistance.

As this severe weather illustrates, disasters can strike at any time. Please take the time to know your hazards, develop a plan, create a ‘Go Kit’ for your ʻohana, and sign up for free County alerts.

AP Photo

Damage Assessment Begins as “Kona Low” Moves West

2 killed, 1 injured in Civil Air Patrol plane crash in Colorado

2 fraternity members charged in death of 20-year-old Dartmouth College student