Pure Disasters in Hawaii: What Is the Danger?

Over 1.4 million individuals stay in Hawaii. Many of those individuals have skilled pure disasters within the state firsthand. Nevertheless, many don’t understand simply what number of completely different pure disasters can happen within the state or how the danger for some disasters is growing.

Right here we’ll go over what pure disasters happen in Hawaii, the worst pure disasters to hit the state since 2000, and what could be completed to arrange.

Is Hawaii at Danger of Pure Disasters?

In comparison with the remainder of the nation, Hawaii has a low threat of pure disasters. Excluding COVID-19, there have been 36 catastrophe declarations in Hawaii since 2000. Of those, 17 had been Main Catastrophe Declarations. As a result of the state shouldn’t be densely populated, none of those disasters triggered greater than $1 billion in damages. 

Worst Pure Disasters in Hawaii Since 2000

Since 2000, all of the worst pure disasters in Hawaii have been extreme storms that triggered flooding, landslides, and mudslides.

One of many deadliest occurred in March 2006, when heavy rains triggered the Ka Loko dam to break down. Seven individuals died in consequence.

What Pure Disasters Happen in Hawaii?

1. Floods

Hawaii has shallow soil, which implies heavy rains can simply trigger flooding. Hurricanes and tropical storms may end in coastal flooding.

Flash floods are additionally frequent due to the various steep slopes within the state. There are a median of 8.3 flash floods per 12 months in Hawaii. November is the worst month for flash floods, with 1–2 occurring in the course of the month.

One of many costliest floods in Hawaii’s latest historical past occurred in April 2018 in Kauai. One space recorded almost 50 inches of rain in simply 24 hours. The heavy rainfall triggered flooding and flash floods, which destroyed 532 houses and triggered roughly $125 million in property injury.

2. Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

Hurricanes and tropical cyclones not often make landfall in Hawaii. Nevertheless, even close by storms could cause critical injury. Many properties within the state are constructed out of sunshine, weak supplies that simply succumb to excessive winds. Flying particles from destroyed buildings solely provides to the potential for injury.

One of many worst tropical storms in Hawaii’s latest historical past was Hurricane Lane in 2018. It reached wind speeds of 160 mph and had a peak rainfall of 58 inches. Neighborhoods in Hilo had been flooded, and plenty of buildings on the Massive Island had been broken by wind. The entire value of the hurricane in Hawaii was over $250 million.

Hawaiian residents can shield themselves in opposition to hurricanes by constructing extra storm-resistant houses. Additionally they want to verify they’ve a hurricane plan in place.

3. Earthquakes

Earthquakes in Hawaii are frequent. 1000’s of quakes happen within the state yearly. Whereas most of those are too weak to even really feel, Hawaii does often have damaging earthquakes. 

The worst in latest historical past was the 2006 Kīholo Bay earthquake. The earthquake was 6.7 magnitude, and it additionally had a number of aftershocks, together with one which was 6.1 magnitude.

Nearly all houses within the western a part of Hawaii had extreme injury. The injury went as far out as 170 miles from the epicenter of the quake and was estimated at over $200 million. A number of accidents occurred.

4. Tsunamis

Hawaii is extra at-risk for tsunamis than some other state. There’s roughly one tsunami yearly. Most of those don’t trigger injury, however a harmful tsunami does happen in Hawaii about as soon as each seven years. 

The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake in Japan, for instance, triggered an enormous tsunami in Hawaii. There have been greater than $3 million in damages to public infrastructure and tens of hundreds of thousands in damages to non-public property, comparable to resort chains.

5. Volcanoes

The islands of Hawaii exist due to volcanic exercise, and there are nonetheless quite a few energetic volcanoes on the islands. Whereas it doesn’t occur typically, these volcanoes can erupt.

Since 2000, the state has needed to declare catastrophe twice due to volcanic eruptions: as soon as in 2014 when the Pu‘u‘ō‘ō volcano erupted and once more in 2018 when Kilauea erupted.

Whereas volcanic eruptions in Hawaii are usually nonexplosive and don’t happen in populated areas, they will nonetheless be very damaging. The erupting volcanoes emit gases that can lead to acid rain. Volcanic eruptions are sometimes accompanied by earthquakes.

6. Wildfires

Hawaii is among the least at-risk states in terms of wildfires. Nevertheless, hotter temperatures and drier grasses imply that even Hawaii is in danger for wildfires. Even areas that aren’t in danger can nonetheless be affected by wildfires, comparable to from unhealthy air high quality, street closures, and financial losses.