HONOLULU — One week after severe flooding impacted communities across Oʻahu, the City and County of Honolulu continues recovery operations across the island as the City transitions from emergency response into recovery.
Over the past week, City crews and contractors have collected approximately 5,400 tons of debris, and cleanup operations remain active in Waialua with 15 dump trucks removing debris, rubbish, and sediment from the community, while a vacuum truck continues clearing drains across the North Shore. The Community Assistance Center at Waialua District Park has served hundreds of residents so far, connecting them with recovery resources and services.
“It has been one week since this storm impacted our communities, and our work is far from over,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “Our teams are still on the ground every day removing debris, helping families, and making sure residents have access to the resources they need as we move from response into recovery.”
Shelters and Housing Assistance For Displaced Residents
Shelter operations at Kāneʻohe District Park are beginning to wind down as conditions improve, and some residents are able to return home. The City is working with partners to transition any remaining displaced residents from shelter into temporary housing as needed.
The State of Hawaiʻi has secured 80 rooms through April 30 at the Inn at Schofield Barracks for displaced households, and the City is making more than 50 additional housing units available. The Department of Community Services and the Department of Housing and Land Management are working with Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi and other partners on a coordinated housing placement and disaster case management program to help households transition from emergency shelter or hotels into temporary housing, rental assistance, and longer-term housing as recovery continues. More information will be announced on Monday.
To conserve emergency resources, temporary housing assistance will be limited to residents whose primary residence is currently unsafe or uninhabitable due to storm damage and who need a place to stay while repairs are being made.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
The Honolulu Emergency Services Department continues to support impacted communities by providing medical assistance, wellness checks, and assistance with replacing lost or damaged medical supplies and prescriptions for residents affected by flooding. EMS personnel remain in contact with impacted communities to ensure medical needs continue to be addressed during recovery.
Debris Removal and Trash Hauling
The Department of Environmental Services (ENV) has begun debris hauling operations from the temporary debris storage and reduction site at Patsy T. Mink Central Oʻahu Regional Park, where debris from the North Shore flooding is being sorted and prepared for disposal. ENV has contracted DRC Emergency Services to sort and manage the debris, and crews are using excavators to separate materials such as white goods, metals, and household hazardous waste before transporting the debris for proper disposal.
Truckloads of debris will continue to be accepted at the site through the weekend, and the contractor has provided a preliminary estimate that debris could be cleared within approximately two to three weeks. This portion of the park had previously been identified in City emergency plans as a temporary debris collection location due to its location and accessibility, and it has functioned as the primary debris staging area for the North Shore cleanup effort.
Community Assistance Center (CAC)
The Community Assistance Center at Waialua District Park remains open this weekend from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to assist residents impacted by flooding. Services available at the CAC include medical assistance, replacement of vital records, replacement of driver’s licenses and state IDs, housing assistance and case management, and disaster assistance information.
Parking is available at Waialua District Park, with additional parking available at Waialua Elementary School this weekend. Please follow the posted signs for parking and shuttle information.
Staff from the Department of Budget and Fiscal Service’s Real Property Assessment Division are also available at the CAC to provide information about real property tax relief for storm-damaged properties. Real property tax remission means that residents who have had their real property damaged or destroyed as a result of a natural disaster could be eligible for property tax relief. For more information, call (808) 768-3799 or click here.
Damage Assessments
The City continues to work with state and federal partners to assess damage in impacted communities. As of today, the City has received 1,280 damage reports. Preliminary assessments include:
- 12 homes destroyed
- 255 homes with major damage
- 37 homes temporarily inaccessible
Damage assessment teams remain in the field conducting additional inspections and outreach. Residents who experienced damage are strongly encouraged to complete a damage report at honolulu.gov/homedamage and document damage with photos.
