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The New Year's Eve Flood on Oahu, Hawaii December 31, 1987 - January 1, 1988 (1991) / Chapter Skim
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Pages 1-6

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From page 1...
... The forecast called for continued thundershower activity, with heavy downpours expected; however, the torrential rainfall and resulting floods were not anticipated even as late as 4:40 p.m., when NWS forecasters told officials of the Oahu Civil Defense Agency that there were no data to indicate an imminent threat of flooding. The flood rains were produced by a cold front that had weakened into a shear line, a significant cloud and rain producer that acted as a center of strong low-level convergence between weak east-southeasterly winds to the south of the flood zone and fresh north or northeast winds to the north.
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From page 2...
... Flash flooding occurred in the Hawaii Kai area and in Waimanalo, a relatively low-lying region. Farther north in the Kailua region, overtopping of a flood control levee produced comparatively slower but more pervasive flooding.
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From page 3...
... Furthermore, design of the Oneawa Canal, which drains the reservoir, had ignored the backwater effects of ocean tidal action, and design of the debris basins, concrete channels, and roadway crossings associated with the reservoir had ignored possible debris and sediment flows. RECOMMENDATION: Studies of the volume of debris produced from storms in the urbanized watersheds of Oahu should be conducted, and design criteria for adequately controlling debris loads should be developed for incorporation into the planning and design of flood control works.
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From page 4...
... In addition, flood hazard mapping efforts should be extended to those areas where flood risks are currently unevaluated. RECOMMENDATION: Although a number of loan and grant programs were made available after the flood, an evaluation should be undertaken to determine what monetary resources homeowners and renters used to repair damage and replace possessions, especially those who were not covered by the National Flood Insurance Program.
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Key Terms

  • emergency response
  • hawaii kai
  • flood control
  • insurance program
  • national flood

  • eve flood
  • shear line
  • increased raingauge
  • civil defense
  • national weather

  • debris basins
  • raingauge network
  • oahu civil
  • satellite imagery
  • defense agency

  • including increased
  • warnings extended
  • proved significant
  • response exercises
  • flood risks

  • actual rain
  • flash flooding
  • produced steady
  • levee surrounding
  • drenching rains

  • control levee
  • heavy downpours
  • dredging reduced
  • raingauge density
  • torrential rainfall


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