Red Cross Responds to Kaua‘i Flooding

American Red Cross

Since Saturday, April 14, 2018, the Red Cross opened five shelters on Kaua‘i—Kapa‘a Middle School, Hanalei Elementary School, Church of Pacific, Koloa and Kilauea Gym. Six teams of Red Cross volunteers conducted damage assessments and distributed cleanup kits to residents O‘ahu in Aina Haina, Niu Valley, Kuliouou, Waimanalo and Kailua on Sunday, April 15.

Also on Sunday, the Red Cross, Coast Guard and Kaua‘i Fire Department had planned to air lift 61 shelter evacuees to a Red Cross Church of Pacific shelter, but helicopters were grounded because of thunderstorms.

All 61 people were stranded last night at the shelter, but around noon today, Monday, April 16, the flood water receded enough for Kaua‘i County to bus them to a Red Cross shelter at Kilauea Gym (the Church of Pacific shelter had a water outage).

Search and rescue is ongoing. About 10 residents from Wainiha have been airlifted to Princeville Airport, where a county bus is available to take them to the Kilauea Gym shelter.

Red Cross deployed 4 O‘ahu volunteers to Kaua‘i this morning to help with sheltering and mental health, health services (nurse) and government relations.

Damage assessment on Kaua‘i will start tomorrow, Tuesday, April 17, now that more roads are cleared and the weather is better.

So far, the Red Cross reported that four homes destroyed homes in Wainiha and there are probably homes damaged in Koloa based on aerial photos.

Red Cross Safe & Well website – If you are a resident affected by the flood, register on the Safe & Well site to let others know your status.

The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on public contributions to help others. All Red Cross assistance to disaster victims is free. Your gift supports the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross in your community, across the country and around the world. To send a contribution, make a secure online donation at redcross.org/hawaii or mail your check to: American Red Cross of Hawaii,4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816.