US EditionCity Defends Flood Response on Oahu's North Shore
Council members pressed officials over late alerts and evacuations as first responders rescued 233 people and no fatalities were reported.
- On Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council grilled Mayor Rick Blangiardi and administration officials regarding delayed emergency alerts and rescue efforts during the March 19-20 Kona-low storms that inundated Oahu's North Shore.
- Councilman Matt Weyer questioned why officials waited until 11 p.m. to activate the Emergency Operations Center, noting the Kaukonahua Stream gauge surged 2 feet in 2 hours starting at 8:25 p.m. on March 19.
- First responders rescued 233 people, but resident Mark Talaeai described the ordeal as a "life-and-death situation" where neighbors saved neighbors after 23 homes were destroyed and 265 were damaged on Oahu.
- Emergency Management Director Randy Collins and Managing Director Mike Formby defended the response, describing the Emergency Operations Center as "extremely structured" yet "chaotic" while managing more than 100 personnel processing information in real time.
- City leaders are preparing an after-action report to improve systems, as officials reported about 80% of debris removal is complete, with recovery efforts shifting toward financial assistance and federal reimbursement.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Associated Press News
Honolulu Council Criticizes Slow City Response To North Shore Flooding
Almost two weeks after devastating flood waters took Oʻahu’s North Shore by surprise, Honolulu City Council members grilled the city’s top emergency manager on what they said were slow evacuation orders and delayed and unclear updates on storm conditions.
Honolulu leaders face tough questions over response to floods | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Honolulu city officials on Wednesday defended their handling of the Kona-low storms that inundated Oahu’s North Shore, as City Council members pressed for clearer timelines, accountability and improvements to emergency alerts and coordination.
Honolulu councilmembers critical of city's emergency response during Kona low storm
HONOLULU (KHON2) -- When it came to the second Kona low storm, what did city officials know? And when did they know it? That's what councilmembers are trying to figure out during a special hearing on Wednesday, April 4. Residents are forced to evacuate their homes in the middle of the night. Flood waters rush [...]
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