Hawaii Island assessment reveals bridges intact as Lala storm recovery continues

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – State and county officials conducted aerial and ground assessments in the hardest-hit areas of Hawaiʻi Island on Monday, getting a firsthand look at the aftermath of Hurricane Lala, which passed south of the island on Saturday.

Read more First Alert Forecast: On the backside of Lala

Governor cites flood damage

Gov. Josh Green said flooding caused more damage than wind.

“Without a doubt, wind has affected roofs in some areas. It certainly blew down trees all over the place, but it’s the flood and the mud and the rock that poured through Naalehu, Pahala, Waiohinu. These communities have a lot of cleanup to do and they’re going to need a lot of support,” he said.

Because of the damage, Hawaii Island all government offices and schools will be closed on Tuesday.

Mayor: Key bridges structurally sound

Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said a previous aerial tour of the damage looked worse than it does now.

On Sunday, Alameda had estimated that up to six bridges in the storm-ravaged Kaʻū District were half-destroyed or mostly destroyed.

On Monday, he clarified that key bridge infrastructure appears structurally sound, and the severe damage was an illusion caused by piles of fallen logs and trees blocking the bridge canals.

“When I did the aerial yesterday with Mr. (Darryl) Olivera, I thought it was way worse,” Alameda said. “I mentioned six bridges, either half destroyed or mostly destroyed. The reason I had that perception is because of the logs. There was so much logs that was just covering all of these bridges. But it looks way better now. And I was telling the governor, I was like, wow. I mean, the work that our crews did with the state within 24 hours was simply phenomenal.”

While engineering tests are still required to guarantee safety, aerial inspections conducted with the Hawaiʻi National Guard indicate the bridges are structurally intact.

‘All hands on deck’ response

Green said he now expects the isolated Kaʻū District to become accessible within days rather than weeks or months.

Read more Maui, Kauai mayors visit Valley Isle areas hardest hit by Lala

Despite the positive infrastructure update, severe localized damage remains.

Power remains out for thousands of residents across the state, and some in the Kaʻū District remain cut off because of storm debris. Many homes are buried halfway under mud, and several unpermitted residential structures have been destroyed.

“We’re going to have to do a lot to do public assistance for individuals that are dislocated,” Green said. “There were, as of last night, about 100 families, 100 people still in shelters, down from 400. And there were only a handful of people in shelters, or in the shelter this afternoon down in Pahala. So we’re quickly recovering.”

Green said crews will “continue to be all hands on deck” and the community will not be isolated for long.

National Guard assists door-to-door searches

The Hawaii National Guard has about 70 soldiers and airmen in the Kau district.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, Hawaii adjutant general, said the team is helping county crews search neighborhoods.

“To assist the county in going through those neighborhoods, specifically up in Naalehu, to go door to door and be able to ascertain if people are there, if they’re missing, or if they can be located,” Logan said. “This team that we brought in is highly specialized.”

How you can help

Green said those who want to support the community can donate to the American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region or through the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.

Green said an announcement was planned for Tuesday regarding a an anonymous gift of clothing to the people of Hawaii, and that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs was also planning to announce a gift in the near future.

Read more Honolulu enters full cleanup and recovery mode as Tropical Storm Lala departs

Watch the full press conference here: