Hawaii assesses damage left by worst flooding in more than 20 years

Hawaii is assessing the extensive damage left by the worst flooding the islands have seen in more than 20 years.Heavy rains and floodwater forced thousands on the North Shore of Oahu to evacuate over the weekend and triggered evacuation orders for parts of Maui. Floodwater from rains lifted houses and cars, inundated farms and swept through grocery stores on the islands, leaving behind a thick layer of mud.The storm, one of the most significant to hit Hawaii in decades, followed extreme winter weather which struck the state last week and left the earth saturated with water. Josh Green, Hawaii’s governor, stated during a press conference on Friday that the storms had caused at least $1bn in damages.Homes in an area severely damaged by flash floods in Haleiwa, Hawaii, on Sunday. Photograph: Stephen Lam/APAt the height of the storm, officials were concerned the 85ft, 120-year-old Wahiawa Dam could fail and potentially endanger thousands. That threat has since subsided as water levels have fallen, according to Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for Oahu’s department of emergency management.More than 200 people were rescued from the floodwaters. No deaths have been reported so far, Pierce said on Sunday afternoon.In the North Shore communities of Waialua and Hale’iwa, many homes in lower-lying areas were covered in mud. Yards were filled with debris as residents sifted through belongings and crews worked to clear roads.Thick mud and debris surround a home in Waialua, Hawaii, on Sunday. Photograph: Marco Garcia/AFP/Getty ImagesWinter storm systems known as “Kona lows”, which feature southerly or south-westerly winds that bring in moisture-laden air, have been responsible for the deluges in the past two weeks. The intensity and frequency of heavy rains in Hawaii have increased amid human-caused global warming, experts say.By Sunday afternoon, the worst of the storms appeared to be over, Hawaii meteorologist Matthew Foster told the Associated Press. The weather shifted from widespread showers to scattered rain from Oahu, Maui-county" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="44392" data-entity-type="location">Maui County, to Hawaii-island" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="44772" data-entity-type="location">Hawaii island. Less than 5in (13cm) of rain is expected for Hawaii-island" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="44772" data-entity-type="location">Hawaii island, with between 1 to 2in in other areas.Additional flooding could still occur, according to Foster, but more on an isolated scale. It will take a couple days for the moisture to push past the islands, with drier and more typical March weather expected by Wednesday.