Hawaii floods cause $1B damage, hundreds rescued

2026-03-23 - 08:39

Hawaii is grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic flooding caused by two consecutive storms that dumped up to 50 inches (127 centimeters) of rain across parts of the state, leaving behind an estimated $1 billion in destruction. The hardest-hit areas, particularly on the island of Oahu, saw roads submerged and entire communities cut off as water levels rose with little warning. Governor Josh Green told the BBC that rescue crews pulled more than 230 people from dangerous conditions. “There were camps that had to be rescued, people were trapped by the water,” Green said. “The coast guard also pulled people off of debris out in the ocean.” Despite the scale of the disaster, authorities reported no confirmed fatalities. Unprecedented rainfall and rescue efforts Officials described the flooding as the worst since 2004, with some evacuation orders and flash flood warnings remaining in effect. The Hawaii National Guard continued to monitor the Wahiawa dam amid concerns it could overflow. Green urged residents to avoid driving through standing water, cautioning that “there’s still major flooding all over the place.” Residents described harrowing scenes. One man told the BBC he woke at 12:30 a.m. to find water rushing into his home. “We’ve lost everything,” he said. Actor Jason Momoa also confirmed his family had evacuated, adding: “We’re safe for now but there’s a lot of people who weren’t.” Ongoing threats and community impact While some flood warnings on Oahu have been lifted, other areas remain at risk. The storm’s impact has drawn comparisons to previous destructive weather events in the Pacific archipelago. For Türkiye, which has experienced its own share of natural disasters—including devastating earthquakes and floods—the images from Hawaii resonate as a reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and coordinated emergency response.