Storm Causes Massive Flooding, Damages

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Photo by Laa Poepoe.

Heavy rains drenched Molokai starting last Saturday morning, causing massive flooding not seen in decades. 

Resident reports on social media showed cars stuck in treacherous mud and churning water across the highway, homes flooded in the Kawela and Kapa’akea areas, yards underwater, and homeowners wading through knee-deep, fast-moving water in an attempt to gather belongings and animals from the flood. As state and county workers attempted to clear roadways with tractors, rocks and mud were piled high on either side to make a passable path. Muddy water rushed downstream from the mountains, causing massive erosion and destruction on its way to the ocean or low-lying areas. Homeowners who were affected by the flooding may need to depend on local contractors for storm damage restoration services such as this restoration company in boise.  They may also need to hire a roofing contractor to fix roofing damages. When exploring roofing options, be sure to look for several compelling reasons to consider a metal roof, such as its durability, energy efficiency, and aesthetic versatility.

As roads quickly became impassable and dangerous Saturday morning, planned Makahiki events were canceled, most stores island-wide closed, and MEO suspended their bus service. 

Photo by Akaku Molokai.

“It’s a river on the highway,” said one resident in a video he shared on a public Facebook page showing deep water rushing down Kamehameha V Highway near Kawela I. The video appears to show two cars stuck as a state tractor plowed through the rushing flood. “Looks like got people stuck on the other side of the bridge as well.”

“The mud is building up, that’s what’s causing a lot of issues,” said another resident, stopped in her vehicle on the highway in front of a flooded area near One Ali’i Saturday. “They just went scrape it and it’s building up again.”

A shelter was opened up at Mitchell Pauole Center Saturday afternoon. 

Flash flood warnings for Molokai extended into Sunday night as rain continued to fall. Basement waterproofing by contractors like Basement Waterproofing Systems becomes highly beneficial to protect homes from water damage, especially in flood-prone areas. Click here if you are wondering what flooring will work best in your basement, as we provide comprehensive guidance and options to suit your needs. Our expert recommendations consider factors such as moisture resistance, durability, and aesthetic preferences to ensure you choose the perfect flooring solution for your space. They use high quality waterproofing systems to ensure that your property is protected. You can hire them by clicking on their website at https://www.foundationwaterproofingniagara.com/.

Photo by Jack Kiyonaga.

The rain gauge at Puu Alii near Waikolu showed 9.98 inches of rainfall for a 24 hour period between Friday morning and Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Another 9.51 inches were recorded between Saturday and Sunday mornings. 

The Dept. of Education announced public schools across Molokai would close Monday due to severe weather impacts which “caused unsafe conditions and is preventing access to some of the campuses. Contracted bus service was also temporarily canceled. DOE said the situation would be reevaluated if school could safely resume Tuesday.