Waikiki Hit By Big Hurricane Would Be Mega-Disaster
Sophie Cocke
http://www.civilbeat.com/2014/08/hawaii-lacks-hurricane-emergency-plan-for-waikiki-neighbor-islands/
Oahu has not sustained a direct hit from a hurricane in recorded history, dating back to the early 1800s, and at most has experienced weak tropical storms.
But if Oahu did get hit by a Category 4 or 5 storm, the state’s catastrophic plan paints a dire picture.
More than two-thirds of the island’s approximately 950,000 residents would be displaced, as the vast majority of residential structures aren’t built to withstand Category 4 winds.
In the densely populated areas of Honolulu and Waikiki, about 42 percent of buildings are expected to be at least moderately damaged by flood waters.
There would likely be mass casualties, and the island has "limited capability, resources, and storage facilities to store and process human remains, which will include all unearthed corpses at cemeteries," according to the plan.
Oahu airports and ports could also be out of service, jeopardizing imports of food, fuel and other goods.
"Debris, power outages, saltwater inundation, flooding and damage to ports will be extensive," according to the plan. "Structural integrity of runways, docks, and facilities will be compromised."
In addition to food shortages, Oahu’s water infrastructure could be damaged, jeopardizing drinking water as well as water needed for firefighting, sanitation and decontamination.
Oahu is also particularly at risk from damage caused by a major storm because much of its critical infrastructure is in flood inundation zones. This includes the island’s two oil refineries, 61 percent of Oahu’s power generation facilities, the majority of the island’s food distribution centers and one-third of nursing facilities.
The plan predicts that power will be out on Oahu for up to 40 days, and possibly longer in some locations, while the oil refineries will be shut down for several weeks.
McKeown said that emergency officials were currently using the plan to scale it to the current storm threats, noting that it was an evolving situation.
"We’re working through that analysis to tailor it to what we know about Hurricane Iselle and where it might impact the islands and the type of damage that might occur," he said.
Oahu is particularly at risk because much of its critical infrastructure is in
flood inundation zones.
flood inundation zones.
http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/dem/dem_docs/plans/OPLAN_200900716.pdf
The State of Hawaii’s topography causes orographic speed-up resulting in intensification of winds peed across ridges and through valleys. As winds funnel between urban buildings and structures, they have the potential to amplify effects.
High-rise buildings are vulnerable to hurricane force winds, and it is not uncommon for these structures to suffer a great deal of damage to windows due to debris.
