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Hawaii suffers worst flooding in 20 years as residents told to 'LEAVE NOW'
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Summary
Hawaii suffers worst flooding in 20 years as residents told to 'LEAVE NOW' More than 5,500 people north of Honolulu are under evacuation orders because of the severe, historic weather. Saturday 21 March 2026 21:02, UK You need javascript enabled to view this content 0:40 Enable javascript to share Share Thousands evacuated following severe flooding in Hawaii Why you can trust Sky News Hawaii is currently suffering its worst flooding in more than 20 years, with people in the hardest-hit areas being urged to “LEAVE NOW” by officials. One of the largest dams on the Oahu island is at “risk of imminent failure”, warned the island’s emergency team on social media. “We’ve got a little over 4,000 people directly within the dam evacuation area,” said Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Department of Emergency Management, according to Sky’s partner newsroom NBC. “It could fail,” Ms Pierce said of the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam. Read more from Sky News: Meningitis outbreak: Cases in Kent rise to 34 Northern Lights: Spectacular views forecast to return With the exception of emergency workers, Hawaii’s state employees have been sent home to “allow families to focus on getting to safety”, he told reporters. “With catastrophic flash flooding already impacting parts of Oahu, including evacuation orders on the North Shore and the potential for dam-related impacts, we are taking this situation extremely seriously.” Image: Local residents offered to help each other amid the flooding.
## Summary
Hawaii suffers worst flooding in 20 years as residents told to 'LEAVE NOW' More than 5,500 people north of Honolulu are under evacuation orders because of the severe, historic weather. Saturday 21 March 2026 21:02, UK You need javascript enabled to view this content 0:40 Enable javascript to share Share Thousands evacuated following severe flooding in Hawaii Why you can trust Sky News Hawaii is currently suffering its worst flooding in more than 20 years, with people in the hardest-hit areas being urged to “LEAVE NOW” by officials. One of the largest dams on the Oahu island is at “risk of imminent failure”, warned the island’s emergency team on social media. “We’ve got a little over 4,000 people directly within the dam evacuation area,” said Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Department of Emergency Management, according to Sky’s partner newsroom NBC. “It could fail,” Ms Pierce said of the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam. Read more from Sky News: Meningitis outbreak: Cases in Kent rise to 34 Northern Lights: Spectacular views forecast to return With the exception of emergency workers, Hawaii’s state employees have been sent home to “allow families to focus on getting to safety”, he told reporters. “With catastrophic flash flooding already impacting parts of Oahu, including evacuation orders on the North Shore and the potential for dam-related impacts, we are taking this situation extremely seriously.” Image: Local residents offered to help each other amid the flooding.
## Article Content
Hawaii suffers worst flooding in 20 years as residents told to 'LEAVE NOW'
More than 5,500 people north of Honolulu are under evacuation orders because of the severe, historic weather.
Saturday 21 March 2026 21:02, UK
You need javascript enabled to view this content
0:40
Enable javascript to share
Share
Thousands evacuated following severe flooding in Hawaii
Why you can trust Sky News
Hawaii is currently suffering its worst flooding in more than 20 years, with people in the hardest-hit areas being urged to “LEAVE NOW” by officials.
One of the largest dams on the Oahu island is at “risk of imminent failure”, warned the island’s emergency team on social media.
“We’ve got a little over 4,000 people directly within the dam evacuation area,” said Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Department of Emergency Management, according to Sky’s partner newsroom NBC.
“It could fail,” Ms Pierce said of the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam.
The team also warned the only remaining access road out of the nearby town of Waialua is at “high risk of failure”.
Image:
Flooded streets in Haleiwa, Hawaii on Friday. Pic: AP
“Residents in the Waialua area are strongly urged to LEAVE NOW. The remaining access road out of Waialua is at high risk of failure if rainfall continues,” posted the Emergency Management team on X on Saturday afternoon UK time.
More than 5,500 people north of Honolulu are under evacuation orders because of the historic weather.
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Thousands evacuated following severe flooding in Hawaii
The situation was made worse by a storm last week, which had already left the ground saturated and susceptible to flooding.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said the cost of the storm could reach $1bn (around £750m), with airports, schools, roads, homes and a hospital all damaged.
"This is going to have a very serious consequence for us as a state,” Mr Green said.
Read more from Sky News:
Meningitis outbreak: Cases in Kent rise to 34
Northern Lights: Spectacular views forecast to return
With the exception of emergency workers, Hawaii’s state employees have been sent home to “allow families to focus on getting to safety”, he told reporters.
“With catastrophic flash flooding already impacting parts of Oahu, including evacuation orders on the North Shore and the potential for dam-related impacts, we are taking this situation extremely seriously.”
Image:
Local residents offered to help each other amid the flooding. Pic: Ricardo Taviera/@hawaiiecodivers
Oahu’s North Shore is famous for its big-wave surfing but the area was submerged in vast stretches of muddy floodwater, as the floods lifted homes and cars.
On social media, local residents were organising clean-up parties and rescue attempts, with one man filming as he tried to rescue a neighbour's cat from the muddy waters.
"Mahalo for your service to the community," replied one Instagram user.
---
## Expert Analysis
### Merits
N/A
### Areas for Consideration
- One of the largest dams on the Oahu island is at “risk of imminent failure”, warned the island’s emergency team on social media. “We’ve got a little over 4,000 people directly within the dam evacuation area,” said Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Department of Emergency Management, according to Sky’s partner newsroom NBC. “It could fail,” Ms Pierce said of the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam.
- The team also warned the only remaining access road out of the nearby town of Waialua is at “high risk of failure”.
- The remaining access road out of Waialua is at high risk of failure if rainfall continues,” posted the Emergency Management team on X on Saturday afternoon UK time.
### Implications
- One of the largest dams on the Oahu island is at “risk of imminent failure”, warned the island’s emergency team on social media. “We’ve got a little over 4,000 people directly within the dam evacuation area,” said Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Department of Emergency Management, according to Sky’s partner newsroom NBC. “It could fail,” Ms Pierce said of the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam.
- Hawaii Governor Josh Green said the cost of the storm could reach $1bn (around £750m), with airports, schools, roads, homes and a hospital all damaged. "This is going to have a very serious consequence for us as a state,” Mr Green said.
- Read more from Sky News: Meningitis outbreak: Cases in Kent rise to 34 Northern Lights: Spectacular views forecast to return With the exception of emergency workers, Hawaii’s state employees have been sent home to “allow families to focus on getting to safety”, he told reporters. “With catastrophic flash flooding already impacting parts of Oahu, including evacuation orders on the North Shore and the potential for dam-related impacts, we are taking this situation extremely seriously.” Image: Local residents offered to help each other amid the flooding.
### Expert Commentary
This article covers hawaii, flooding, residents topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 493.
Hawaii suffers worst flooding in 20 years as residents told to 'LEAVE NOW' More than 5,500 people north of Honolulu are under evacuation orders because of the severe, historic weather. Saturday 21 March 2026 21:02, UK You need javascript enabled to view this content 0:40 Enable javascript to share Share Thousands evacuated following severe flooding in Hawaii Why you can trust Sky News Hawaii is currently suffering its worst flooding in more than 20 years, with people in the hardest-hit areas being urged to “LEAVE NOW” by officials. One of the largest dams on the Oahu island is at “risk of imminent failure”, warned the island’s emergency team on social media. “We’ve got a little over 4,000 people directly within the dam evacuation area,” said Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Department of Emergency Management, according to Sky’s partner newsroom NBC. “It could fail,” Ms Pierce said of the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam. Read more from Sky News: Meningitis outbreak: Cases in Kent rise to 34 Northern Lights: Spectacular views forecast to return With the exception of emergency workers, Hawaii’s state employees have been sent home to “allow families to focus on getting to safety”, he told reporters. “With catastrophic flash flooding already impacting parts of Oahu, including evacuation orders on the North Shore and the potential for dam-related impacts, we are taking this situation extremely seriously.” Image: Local residents offered to help each other amid the flooding.
## Article Content
Hawaii suffers worst flooding in 20 years as residents told to 'LEAVE NOW'
More than 5,500 people north of Honolulu are under evacuation orders because of the severe, historic weather.
Saturday 21 March 2026 21:02, UK
You need javascript enabled to view this content
0:40
Enable javascript to share
Share
Thousands evacuated following severe flooding in Hawaii
Why you can trust Sky News
Hawaii is currently suffering its worst flooding in more than 20 years, with people in the hardest-hit areas being urged to “LEAVE NOW” by officials.
One of the largest dams on the Oahu island is at “risk of imminent failure”, warned the island’s emergency team on social media.
“We’ve got a little over 4,000 people directly within the dam evacuation area,” said Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Department of Emergency Management, according to Sky’s partner newsroom NBC.
“It could fail,” Ms Pierce said of the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam.
The team also warned the only remaining access road out of the nearby town of Waialua is at “high risk of failure”.
Image:
Flooded streets in Haleiwa, Hawaii on Friday. Pic: AP
“Residents in the Waialua area are strongly urged to LEAVE NOW. The remaining access road out of Waialua is at high risk of failure if rainfall continues,” posted the Emergency Management team on X on Saturday afternoon UK time.
More than 5,500 people north of Honolulu are under evacuation orders because of the historic weather.
More from US
Iran war latest: Iranian ballistic missiles fired at Diego Garcia joint UK-US military base, Sky News understands
Is Donald Trump finished with the war in Iran?
Thousands evacuated following severe flooding in Hawaii
The situation was made worse by a storm last week, which had already left the ground saturated and susceptible to flooding.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said the cost of the storm could reach $1bn (around £750m), with airports, schools, roads, homes and a hospital all damaged.
"This is going to have a very serious consequence for us as a state,” Mr Green said.
Read more from Sky News:
Meningitis outbreak: Cases in Kent rise to 34
Northern Lights: Spectacular views forecast to return
With the exception of emergency workers, Hawaii’s state employees have been sent home to “allow families to focus on getting to safety”, he told reporters.
“With catastrophic flash flooding already impacting parts of Oahu, including evacuation orders on the North Shore and the potential for dam-related impacts, we are taking this situation extremely seriously.”
Image:
Local residents offered to help each other amid the flooding. Pic: Ricardo Taviera/@hawaiiecodivers
Oahu’s North Shore is famous for its big-wave surfing but the area was submerged in vast stretches of muddy floodwater, as the floods lifted homes and cars.
On social media, local residents were organising clean-up parties and rescue attempts, with one man filming as he tried to rescue a neighbour's cat from the muddy waters.
"Mahalo for your service to the community," replied one Instagram user.
---
## Expert Analysis
### Merits
N/A
### Areas for Consideration
- One of the largest dams on the Oahu island is at “risk of imminent failure”, warned the island’s emergency team on social media. “We’ve got a little over 4,000 people directly within the dam evacuation area,” said Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Department of Emergency Management, according to Sky’s partner newsroom NBC. “It could fail,” Ms Pierce said of the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam.
- The team also warned the only remaining access road out of the nearby town of Waialua is at “high risk of failure”.
- The remaining access road out of Waialua is at high risk of failure if rainfall continues,” posted the Emergency Management team on X on Saturday afternoon UK time.
### Implications
- One of the largest dams on the Oahu island is at “risk of imminent failure”, warned the island’s emergency team on social media. “We’ve got a little over 4,000 people directly within the dam evacuation area,” said Molly Pierce, a spokesperson for the Oahu Department of Emergency Management, according to Sky’s partner newsroom NBC. “It could fail,” Ms Pierce said of the 120-year-old Wahiawa dam.
- Hawaii Governor Josh Green said the cost of the storm could reach $1bn (around £750m), with airports, schools, roads, homes and a hospital all damaged. "This is going to have a very serious consequence for us as a state,” Mr Green said.
- Read more from Sky News: Meningitis outbreak: Cases in Kent rise to 34 Northern Lights: Spectacular views forecast to return With the exception of emergency workers, Hawaii’s state employees have been sent home to “allow families to focus on getting to safety”, he told reporters. “With catastrophic flash flooding already impacting parts of Oahu, including evacuation orders on the North Shore and the potential for dam-related impacts, we are taking this situation extremely seriously.” Image: Local residents offered to help each other amid the flooding.
### Expert Commentary
This article covers hawaii, flooding, residents topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 493.
hawaii
flooding
residents
north
evacuation
sky
oahu
emergency