Nāʻālehu search and rescue underway due to severe flash flooding

The County of Hawaiʻi, in coordination with the Hawaiʻi National Guard and US Coast Guard, is conducting search-and-rescue operations in Nāʻālehu and Waiʻōhinu on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi due to severe flash flooding.

Rising flood waters have cutoff road access in the community in Kaʻū, and the County has received reports of homes being inundated. National Guard high water vehicles are being deployed to access individuals who had called 9-1-1 in flooded neighborhoods, and a Coast Guard helicopter is being utilized to assist these operations.

Any residents assisted by this operation were being taken to the following designated locations: Robert N. Herkes Gym in Pāhala and the area’s Department of Public Works base yard.

“Our highest priority is the safety of our residents,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda. “This is a joint operation between multiple County agencies – including Civil Defense, Police, Fire and Public Works – and our partners to ensure everyone is safe and accounted for. We ask residents in impacted neighborhoods to cooperate with these efforts and avoid entering flood waters. This is an unfolding situation, and we will provide updates as the situation progresses.”