Many residents across the state stayed indoors this weekend as a severe storm channel blanketed the islands.
The National Weather Service said Monday morning that each island will be conducting “high tide monitoring” as the storm rolls through. They predict the heavy rain will ease Monday night into Tuesday morning and winds will weaken for the remainder of the week.
The Department of Education closed all schools on Molokaʻi — including Kualapuʻu Charter School, Maunaloa Elementary, Kaunakakai Elementary, Kilohana Elementary, Molokaʻi Middle and Molokaʻi High — for Monday.
All HIDOE schools on Moloka’i will be closed to students and staff on Monday 30th January due to severe weather. Parts of the island have been flooded during recent heavy rains, creating unsafe conditions and preventing access to some campuses. pic.twitter.com/eDrBnOHY1G
— Hawaii Public Schools (@HIDOE808) January 30, 2023
On Kauai, Hanalei Elementary will also be closed due to Kuhio Hwy. near Hanalei Bridge was closed this weekend due to flooding. The freeway has now been reopened to one lane.
Additionally, Kaua’i County has issued a Water Conservation Alert for residents between Hanalei and Hā’ena related to severe weather. They are urging residents to limit water use to essential tasks such as cooking, drinking or sanitation to prevent a complete water supply blackout.
Several power outages were documented on O’ahu this weekend, including a major outage in Hale’iwa when a tree fell on a power line, forcing the closure of both lanes on Kamehameha Hwy.
Danger overview on Monday morning:
*Flash flood warning for parts of Kaua’i until at least 8:45 am
*DOE schools on Moloka’i, Hanalei Elementary on Kaua’i are closed.
*Several hazards are still forecast including wind, rain, flooding and mud/rock slides in steep areas.
🧵1/2 pic.twitter.com/LYyb14KHoZ— Hawaii EMA (@Hawaii_EMA) January 30, 2023
On Maui, a firefighter who was called to a flooded home in Kihei was washed down a storm drain on Friday and seriously injured.
Maui News said the firefighter got stuck in a 4-foot-wide storm drain and was carried about half a mile by rainwater. He has since been transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.
The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency is asking the public to take photos of any damage caused by the storm, saying it could help with insurance costs and help your community qualify for future assistance.
This article will be updated as more information is released.