Wahiawa Dam on Oahu at Risk of Failure After Torrential Rain, Officials Urge Evacuation
wahiawa dam is at risk of breaching after a torrential downpour on Oahu’s North Shore, and Honolulu emergency officials on Friday urged people in the area to evacuate “out of an abundance of caution. ” The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management issued a “get ready to go” notice as it monitored rising water levels in the reservoir.
Officials Warn Reservoir Levels Are Approaching a Failure Threshold
In a Friday news conference, the department’s director, Dr. Randal Collins, said the reservoir’s water level measured 83 feet as of 6: 00 p. m. ET. Collins said dam failure occurs at 90 feet and emphasized that conditions could change quickly.
“There is a risk of dam failure, ” Collins said, warning that a breach could push water downstream rapidly and lead to catastrophic flooding. He urged residents to prepare to evacuate on short notice, adding that people who need extra time to move should leave immediately.
Possible Heavy Rain Could Complicate Evacuation Timing
Collins said emergency managers are monitoring conditions closely and hope to initiate an evacuation two hours before threatening damage to the reservoir or failure of the reservoir. He said a band of heavy rain, potentially including thunderstorms, could hit the area between 8: 00 p. m. and 10: 00 p. m. ET.
The department expects another two to five inches of rain in the area, Collins said, while noting that thunderstorms can make rainfall unpredictable. That uncertainty, he added, is a major reason officials were leaning forward with precautions.
Despite the concerns about rising water, Collins said the dam has not shown signs of structural damage.
Nearby Shelters Identified; Residents Told to Bring Supplies
Officials directed evacuees to several nearby shelters. Collins said the closest sites include Wailua Height High and Intermediate School, which he said is not in the evacuation zone, as well as Kahuku Elementary School and George Fred Wright Wahiawa District Park.
Collins advised anyone going to a shelter to bring supplies that could last up to three days, including sleeping gear, clothes, water, food, medications, important documents, phone chargers and other essentials.
As conditions evolve, officials stressed that people in the area should stay prepared to move quickly if the risk level increases. The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management said it will continue to track rainfall and reservoir conditions as the evening forecast unfolds around wahiawa dam.
