Rescue Efforts Underway as Heavy Rain Causes Flooding on Kauai Island

On Friday, April 12, authorities reported that heavy rain on the Hawaiian island of Kauai led to the rescue of several individuals from floodwaters. Despite the intense rainfall, no injuries have been reported so far. The heavy rain, which began on Thursday afternoon, resulted in the closure of public schools across Kauai on Friday. Additionally, numerous roads were closed due to landslides, leaning utility poles and overflowing stream waters. Emergency crews have been working tirelessly to reopen these roads and ensure the safety of the residents.

Kauai Emergency Management Administrator Elton Ushio stated that firefighters were actively involved in rescuing people, particularly in the communities of Koloa and Wailua. He mentioned that there were reports of water rising up to 4 feet (1.22 meters) in at least one house, necessitating the rescue and evacuation of individuals from residential areas.

Comparison to Previous Rainstorms

Ushio highlighted that while Kauai residents are accustomed to heavy rainfall, the current situation is not as severe as the rainstorms in 2018, which set a national 24-hour rainfall record. He emphasized that Kauai receives significant annual rainfall, contributing to its lush valleys and deep canyons.

The National Weather Service reported that the rain intensity from 6 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday resulted in more than 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) of rainfall in several locations. Lihue airport, the island's official record-keeping station, broke a 1996 record with 3.65 inches (9.27 centimeters) of rainfall on Thursday. Additionally, over 11 inches (27.94 centimeters) were recorded from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. at the airport, indicating a high likelihood of breaking the record for Friday.

Although the rain tapered off after sunrise on Friday, the National Weather Service warned of heavy showers expected on Saturday night into Sunday morning, posing a continued threat of flooding for the area.