Being in our little "Paradise" in Hawaii and out in the middle of the Pacific has its horror stories too. The islands of Kauai, Niihau and Oahu were devastated by Hurricane Iwa (pronounce eeva) on November 24, 1982 and caused the destruction of over2300 buildings, including over 1900 residential homes and leaving 500 people homeless.
The island of Kauai was hit head on by Hurricane Iniki (pronounced ee-knee-kee and a Category 4 hurricane and third most destructive hurricane in U.S. History) back on September 11, 1992 (ironically the same date as 9/11-World Trade Center) with the eye passing straight over that island. The island was devasted and it took many years to rebuild. This hurricane was supposed to pass south and continue west but it took a severe right turn and hit Kauai. This happened just weeks after Hurricane Andrew hit Florida.
With Hurricane Flossie on the move towards Hawaii we are always unsure of the path of a hurricane and whether or not it will hit us head on. On the news last night they were talking about "make your house more hurricane proof because there's no room at shelters anyway". Well, basically that was the insinuation. I have written about our islands having only so much of buildable land. Well, we don't have a bunch of shelters to accomodate about 1 million people on our island of Oahu alone either.
We have a great warning system but too many people for the few shelters we do have. Our traffic is already horrendous without all of us rushing to get to a shelter and I suppose I can drag my cooler on wheels to the school right over the park next door or take my chances at home?
Right now Hurricane Flossie (Category 4) is 810 miles south of the Big Island of Hawaii and 1,020 miles southeast of the island of Oahu. Late Tuesday it'll be here as a hurricane or a weakened tropical storm.
I am getting necessities together today. Just in case.
WATCH THE VIDEO OF HURRICANE INIKI, the spirit of Aloha and the community coming together after the devastation of Hurricane Iniki. (some clips during the hurricane as well) The U.S. National Guard played the biggest part in helping the people of Kauai with food, cleanup and all around help as well as musicians raising money for our beautiful Garden Isle of Kauai.
TEN years after
Currently a Category 2 with winds up to 110 mph/20 ft high surf on the coasts of the Big Island and still 180 miles from the Big Island....will keep you posted.
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Mililani Hawaii Real Estate Blog 2007
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