FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              March 3, 2006

WINDWARD FLOODING PROMPTS EMERGENCY DECLARATION

            City Managing Director Wayne Hashiro has declared a state of emergency for Windward Oahu because of severe rainfall and flooding that began Wednesday, intensified yesterday and continued overnight. 

            The declaration notes that “the heavy and persistent rains caused flash flooding, the evacuation of residents and extensive property damage in several areas of the island, with the most extensive damage occurring on the Windward Coast from the communities of Kaneohe to Sunset Beach.”

            Hashiro signed the declaration as acting mayor, on behalf of Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who is out of the state. The declaration triggers applications by the City for federal disaster relief assistance.

            The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for Oahu to 9:30 a.m. today.       The Oahu Civil Defense Agency’s emergency operations center was activated mid-morning Wednesday and continues to remain activated.

            The flooding, which began Wednesday and has continued, caused three major road closures this morning:

·       Pali Highway Kailua-bound between Waokanaka Road and Kamehameha Highway, because of a mudslide and flooding from a waterfall at the Pali Tunnels.

·       Kamehameha Highway between Waiahole and Kaaawa  because of  flooding and mudslides.

·       Kapaa Quarry Road between Kalanianaole Highway and Mokapu Boulevard because of flooding. (Vehicles are being allowed into Le Jardin Academy.)

            Motorists are advised to avoid those areas.

            The Kamehameha Highway closure has forced the City to halt bus service between Hygenic Store in Kahaluu and Hauula Shopping Center in both directions. Kailua-bound buses are being diverted to Likelike Highway because of the Pali Highway closure in that direction.. Call Oahu Transit Services at 848-5555 for information.

            Runoff from the rains also caused several sewage spills, the largest of which occurred at the Kaneohe Wastewater Pre-Treatment Facility,  where an estimated 150,000 gallons of sewage is believed to have spilled. Smaller spills have also been reported at the Kailua Wastewater Treatment Plant, where an estimated 1,000 gallons is believed to have spilled; the Waimanalo Treatment Plant; manholes at Nahiku Street in Kaneohe and Hele Street and Wanaao Road in Kailua.

            The rain prompted the closure of the City’s Ala Wai and Pali golf courses today, and play at the Ewa Villages course is limited to nine holes.

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Contact:

            John Cummings III, OCDA, 523-4121

            Bill Brennan, 527-6928

            Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767