Oahu flood survivor turns garage into community storm-prep hub

PUNALUU (HawaiiNewsNow) — A Windward O’ahu resident whose Hau’ula home was overtaken by seeping water and then mold following the Kona low storm in March has opened a community disaster hub out of her Punalu’u garage, distributing free supplies to neighbors preparing for an approaching storm.

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Kim Fanene, founder of HI Risk Management, set up the hub two weeks ago in Punaluu after moving from Hau’ula. On Wednesday, residents stopped by to pick up batteries, shampoo, conditioner and other basic necessities.

Supplies and storm prep

“A lot of families are coming asking for stuff like shampoo, conditioner, all the regular necessities,” Fanene said. “Majority came to pick up a lot of batteries for their flashlights and all that sort of stuff. Eventually I know they will start coming for more propane and butane and burners because just to prepare for the electric outage.”

Fanene said she feels anxious alongside her neighbors as the storm approaches.

“Honestly, I’m really anxious, which I’m sure can speak for the rest of the community,” she said. “No one knows what’s going to happen. I mean, the last one was unexpected.”

From flood victim to founder

Fanene lived in Hau’ula during the Kona low storm in March, where water seeped into her rental and triggered a mold infestation.

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After seeing other flood victims struggle — too exhausted to navigate paperwork — she created HIRiskManagement.com to connect families with supplies and donors.

“HI Risk Management will provide them kind of a booklet, a guideline for what they need and the resources that are in their area, in their community,” Fanene said. “That’s one way to connect everyone, as well as letting them know… what they need to stock themselves.”

Free sign-ups, growing reach

Signing up on HIRiskManagement.com is free.

So far, 80 families have registered on the site, and Fanene said she is also directly assisting up to 45 additional families.

“I feel like this is a calm before the storm,” Fanene said. “It changes so quickly and all we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

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