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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1245PMWEATHERUPDATE4151804, BERNARD P. CARVALHO JR.WALLACE G. REZENTES JR. Mayor Managing Director COUNTY OF KAUA'I KAUA'I EMERGENCY MANAGEMEMENT AGENCY News Release For Immediate Release: April 15, 2018 ELTON LISHIO, ADMINISTRATOR Tel (808) 241-1800 Fax (808) 241-1860 12:45 p.m. UPDATE: Flash Flood Warning extended to 1:45 p.m. LIHU'E — The Flash Flood Warning for the island of Kaua'i continues until at least 1:45 p.m. and will likely be extended as the North Shore of Kaua'i continues to get hit with heavy rains. The National Weather Service reports that Hanalei experienced over 27 inches of rain over the past 24 hours. The American Red Cross evacuation shelters remains open at Hanalei Elementary School and the Church of the Pacific in Princeville. The evacuation shelter at the Kapa'a Middle School has been closed due to inactivity. Additionally, the Department of Education has announced that Hanalei Elementary School will be closed on Monday, April 16 due to inclement weather. As a result of the school closure, no school busses will be operating for students residing in Hanalei, Wainiha or H5'ena who attend Kapa'a Middle and Kapa'a High School. The Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative continues to report power outages in Hanama'ulu, Kapahi, 'Anini, and the area from Hanalei to H5'ena. The Kaua'i Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center has been activated since early Saturday morning and is continuing to partner with the Hawai'i Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army and the Honolulu Fire Department to support the ongoing search and rescue operations on the North Shore. Both on -duty and off -duty emergency personnel have performed a number of rescues and evacuations since Saturday night. The exact number of rescues are not yet known and no major injuries have been reported at this time. The state Department of Transportation and the county Public Works Roads Division continue to work to clear landslides and debris that have occurred in multiple locations between Kalihiwai and Wainiha. Officials are also reporting the following road closures: • Kuhio Highway, between Waikoko and Wainiha, due to multiple landslides; • Kuhio Highway, between Princeville and the Hanalei Bridge, due to flooding; • Hanalei Plantation Road in Princeville due to a sinkhole. The Kapa`a Bypass Road was closed for roughly two hours due to flooding but has since been reopened. Kuhio Highway near the Wailua Golf Course, and Kuhio Highway at Kahiliholo Road was also closed Sunday morning due to flooding but has since been fully reopened. Earlier this morning, the Kalihiwai Reservoir was approaching maximum capacity. As a safety precaution, the low-lying areas of Kalihiwai Valley along Kalihiwai Valley Road and near Kalihiwai Stream were evacuated. However, the water level at the reservoir has subsided and there is no active threat at this time. Residents are advised that they can return to their homes. Emergency personnel continue to closely monitor this situation. The Department of Water (DOW) announces a water service outage for Haena and Wainiha customers until further notice. There is no timeline for water service restoration at this time, due to the inaccessibility of the area. Affected customers are advised to collect rain water to use for non -potable water needs. Princeville Utilities Co., Inc. has issued an immediate water conservation notice for all its customers in Princeville, Anini Vista, Kalihiwai Bay Estates, Kapaka Road and Hanalei Plantation Road. Customers are urged to limit water consumption to essential uses only in order to avoid a water outage. Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr. has signed an emergency proclamation as the County of Kauai engages in various emergency response operations associated with record -breaking rains, flooding and thunderstorms. For updates on road conditions and closures, please call 241-1725. Please do not call Kauai police 911 unless you have an emergency. For weather updates call the National Weather Service automated weather line at 245- 6001, or visit the NWS website, www.weather.gov/hawaii. To sign up for Blackboard Connect, the county's emergency notification service, please go to the county's website, www.kauai.gov/KEMA, or call the Kauai Emergency Management Agency at 241-1800.