The Surfrider Foundation is heartbroken by the devastation caused by the Kona low storm and severe flooding of communities across the North Shore of Oʻahu, Maui, and throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The storm brought heavy winds, approximately 50 inches of rain, widespread flash floods, power outages, and property loss. Our thoughts go out to all the community members affected by this tragedy, especially our network of members and on-the-ground volunteers in the region.
The impacts are ongoing, and beyond the visible damage, the system has led to significant water pollution that poses public and environmental health risks. There have been reports of over a dozen sewage spills of varying amounts since the storm began. Brown Water Advisories have also been issued for the entire islands of Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and Maui to protect the public from pollution carried by floodwaters.
Safety is the top priority during a natural disaster such as this one — please heed warnings from local officials and stay informed on water quality advisories. As conditions allow, Surfrider chapters will continue to test local water quality through our Blue Water Task Force program.
Click below to view current advisories and sign up for email notifications. eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/cwb/#!/landing
Photo Credit: Photos 1, 3, and 4 by AP Photo/Mengshin Lin, Photo 2 by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
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