After nearly a week of stormy weather wreaked havoc across much of the state — prompting lawmakers to quickly propose setting aside $12 million in disaster aid — the National Weather Service on Thursday said heavy rain and thunderstorms are again on the way.
A deep upper-level trough is expected to keep the weather unsettled through Saturday. A strong high-pressure system to the far northwest is forecast to produce strong, gusty trades through next week.
In response to the expected heavy rain and flooding through the weekend, Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Thursday signed a supplemental disaster proclamation to extend emergency functions for Oahu and Kauai. An emergency declaration for both islands was declared earlier in the week.
Also on Thursday the House Finance Committee announced it was setting aside $12 million to repair and rebuild damaged harbors and highways and to restore public lands.
"Chair Marcus Oshiro and the House Finance committee responded immediately to the heavy damage that our island took during the recent storms," Rep. Derek Kawakami (D, Hanalei-Kapaa) said in a news release.
Intense bands of showers are expected over Oahu as the new storm system moves west over the state through Saturday. Oahu was due to see more torrential downpours, lightning and even more hail in a storm that could reach its peak sometime this afternoon.
On Thursday, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai were under a flash flood watch until 6 a.m. Saturday.
Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho gathered first-response agencies Thursday at the Civil Defense Emergency Operations Center in preparation for more storm-related problems. Kauai Civil Defense Agency manager Theodore Daligdig III said crews have begun to stage equipment and supplies in the event that flooding requires the closure of highways and roads.
Rain fell on Maui Thursday afternoon at a rate of 3.5 to 4 inches an hour near Waiehu, about seven miles northwest of Kahului.
With the ground already saturated, forecasters say any additional rainfall could produce flash floods and landslides.
Although Kauai and Oahu took the brunt of the storm for most of the week, the effects were felt Thursday on Molokai and Maui.
Molokai firefighters responded to a flooded home on Kamehameha V Highway in East Molokai at about 12:30 a.m. and helped residents secure their belongings after a couple woke to find water almost up to their knees, a Maui County spokesman said.
About 7,000 gallons of partially treated but not completely disinfected sewage flowed into Lake Wilson in Wahiawa Wednesday night because of a power failure, the state Health Department said. Signs advised people to stay out of the reservoir for the next several days.
Oahu and Kauai remain under a brown-water advisory, with the Health Department advising people to stay out of floodwaters and storm water runoff because of contamination from overflowing cesspools, sewer manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals and associated flood debris.
Conditions should start improving Sunday, officials said, although rain is still in the forecast.
Kauai County officials are asking property owners who sustained flood damage to file a claim for remission of property taxes.
American Red Cross personnel fanned out on Kauai, Oahu and Molokai on Thursday to assess damage and meet with affected people.
