HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The city Department of Emergency Management is urging residents in Waialua and H\u0101le\u02bbiwa to prepare to evacuate as officials monitor rising water levels at Wahiaw\u0101 Dam.<\/p>\n
Emergency Management Director Randall Collins said the city is issuing a \u201cget ready to go\u201d notice because the situation remains uncertain and there is a risk of dam failure.<\/p>\n
At 6 p.m., Collins said the reservoir level was approaching 83 feet, with dam failure occurring at 90 feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe water level has risen and conditions remain uncertain,\u201d Collins said. \u201cA failure could send water downstream fast and lead to catastrophic flooding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Collins said the notice was being issued early \u201cout of an abundance of caution\u201d and residents should be prepared to leave on short notice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are told to evacuate, leave at once,\u201d Collins said.<\/p>\n
View an interactive evacuation map here.<\/a><\/p>\n At 10 p.m., Collins said a decrease in water levels is helping to relieve pressure on the drainage system, but said crews are continuing to monitor the situation as rain still impacts the area.<\/p>\n \u201cOur key message is that conditions are stable and trending in the right direction,\u201d Collins said. \u201cThe monitoring will continue around the clock.\u201d<\/p>\n The latest reported level was in the low 82s\u2014about 82.11\u2014marking a third consecutive report showing a downward trend.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not dropping quickly, but it is dropping in the right direction,\u201d Collins said.<\/p>\n He added that while rain continues, drainage is moving through the system faster than rainfall is accumulating.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rain is coming down, but the drainage is passing through the system at a much quicker rate than the rain is accumulating,\u201d Collins said.<\/p>\n Collins said the department is in regular communication with state partners, other emergency management officials, and the National Weather Service to track water levels and overall dam conditions.<\/p>\n Collins said advanced warning is necessary as evacuations require a significant lead time.<\/p>\n \u201cIt takes us about three hours to get responders in place and conduct an evacuation,\u201d Collins said, adding that rainfall intensity and the potential for thunderstorms are key variables.<\/p>\n Officials said they are hopeful conditions do not reach the point of failure, but emphasized that action must happen earlier to ensure people can get out safely.<\/p>\n Collins said if conditions change in any way that could impact public safety, the public will be notified immediately. He encouraged residents to keep cell phones on and charged.<\/p>\n \u201cAny mandatory evacuation would include what we call a wireless emergency alert,\u201d Collins said.<\/p>\n He said officials would also activate the island siren system and, when possible, use responders to notify neighborhoods door-to-door or via loudspeakers.<\/p>\n If travel is necessary, Collins said to drive carefully and avoid flooded roadways.<\/p>\n \u201cDrive very, very carefully. Turn around,\u201d Collins said. \u201cDon\u2019t drive through high moving water and deep water.\u201d<\/p>\n Collins encouraged anyone who needs extra time to evacuate \u2014 including k\u016bpuna, families with small children, people with disabilities, and anyone who needs help with transportation or medical equipment \u2014 to consider leaving now.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you need extra time, leave now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n DEM urged residents to have a plan to move quickly and to prepare supplies for at least three days, including:<\/p>\n Collins warned residents to stay off flooded roads and never drive through standing water.<\/p>\n Thunderstorms remain possible, he said, and rainfall rates can increase with little warning.<\/p>\n Collins said evacuation shelters were not close to full. The closest shelter had about 11 people at last report and has capacity for more.<\/p>\n The nearest shelters are located at Waialua High and Intermediate, George Fred Wright Wahiawa District Park, and Kahuku Elementary. View a full list of shelters here.<\/a> <\/p>\n Officials said updates will be provided as new information becomes available.<\/p>\n\n