Editorial: Time to prepare for the next big storm

Not to mention the unusually heavy rains that soaked the state this week is that it may not be so uncommon anymore.

This was about what the National Weather Service called the “Kona Low,” a meteorological condition that refers to the same atmospheric moisture fluxes that dump rain over the Pacific Northwest, known as the Pineapple Express, and which also follow floods Hawaii can bring.

Whatever the exact mechanism that brought the slow moving rain clouds here, we have all been told now, in the age of climate change, that we must expect them to continue, and with increased intensity.

The biggest surprise seems to have been the vulnerability of Honolulu‘s urban infrastructure. While it’s not the only example remembered – overwhelming rainwater in 2006 led to the diversion of raw sewage into the Ala Wai Canal when a sewer system cracked – Oahu often seems to dodge the bullets of weather disasters. People tend to forget what is at stake.

Honolulu’s luck ran out this time. By Wednesday noon, city officials said it had received around 180 reports of residential damage, ranging from minor repairs to reports of total destruction, mostly between Pearl City and East Oahu.

It is good that the city immediately began collecting this information using online self-assessment tools (honolulu.gov/homedamage for residential buildings, honolulu.gov/businessdamage for businesses). Because Mayor Rick Blangiardi has waived all permit fees for emergency work so that appraisals and repairs can begin immediately.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency gave residents some vital advice to help them prepare the recommended records for insurance purposes: Do not wade through flood waters that may hide debris, contaminate, or cause electric shock.

The Kona Low broke a one-day rainfall record on Monday when Honolulu was soaked at 7.92 inches, making it the wettest December day.

The only positive thing about it is that extreme weather reveals the weaknesses of a community and allows an assessment and prioritization of the bug fixes to be carried out first.

Some of this became evident when the lights went out in downtown Honolulu. Three Hawaiian Electric Co. transformers had failed due to a flood at the Iwilei substation. Damage to the high voltage cable had to be repaired and spliced.

The protective barriers at the centuries-old substation were not sufficient. As much as the utility company should check the resilience of such systems, the outage also underscored the need for businesses, schools, and other institutions to consider their own storm protection and backups.

Hospitals and nursing homes generally have redundancies built in, but any location with critical electrical systems should consider having and maintaining generators as well.

One of the characteristics of this storm that made it stand out was its nationwide impact. The storm came from the south and swept the island chain, reserving some of its special anger for Maui. Reports of snow storm conditions on the peaks of the Big Island did not surprise the Kamaaina at all, but they did attract some national attention to a storm that devastated a state famous for its mild climate.

What outsiders do not see is the close arrangement of the island houses in hilly, wooded terrain, targets for damage from wind and bubbling, overflowing streams.

Is there work in the city to improve the monitoring and maintenance of gullies and culverts? Absolutely.

But it is certainly time for home and business owners to take stock of their own risks and vulnerabilities after the sun dries up the muddy landscape again.