All articles tagged with #dam safety
Hawaii endures its worst flooding in more than 20 years as heavy rains swamp Oahu and Maui, triggering evacuation orders for about 5,500 residents, fears of a Wahiawa dam failure, and widespread damage. Officials warn more rain could worsen conditions, with costs potentially exceeding $1 billion and federal aid expected as the state assesses the damage.
Hawaii’s Oahu experienced its worst floods in more than 20 years after Kona-low rains drenched saturated ground, forcing evacuations for about 5,500 people and raising fears the Wahiawa dam could fail. Gov. Josh Green estimated damages could exceed $1 billion, with impacts to airports, roads, schools, homes and a Maui hospital as more rain was forecast. The aging dam, built in 1906 and deemed high-hazard, remains a focal point even as talks to transfer ownership from Dole to the state continue; no deaths were reported, though several people were hospitalized with hypothermia and many structures were damaged.
A 60-foot crack in the Panguitch Lake Dam in rural Utah has prompted urgent efforts to prevent a potential breach, with water being released to lower the reservoir and large rocks being placed to support the dam. Residents downstream have been warned to be prepared for evacuation, and officials are working to relieve pressure on the dam caused by an ice sheet. The dam, built in the late 1800s with a top portion added in the 1930s and 1940s, was not previously a concern for structural integrity.