04-07-2019, 06:33 AM
Last year the Hanalei Valley on Kauai received 50 inches of rain in one day. Homes and livestock were washed out to sea, the roads were destroyed, buffalo stood dazed and confused on the beach.
NBC has a good story about their recovery efforts. Their road was repaired for $90 million so residents could quickly gain access and return to their property. Initially it appeared not enough homes were damaged to meet FEMA's threshold for assistance, so Gov. Ige stepped in and added some damaged Oahu homes in the "revised" total.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-ameri...ld-n987696
It's a story of survival, and triumph over adversity, but it also has me thinking, what is the difference between the recovery efforts on Kauai and those in Puna after the lava flow? Why was their road immediately repaired? Why was there no discussion that perhaps landowners in the Hanalei Valley shouldn't be allowed to rebuild? Isn't it likely a major flood will again occur in the Hanalei Valley, as it did when Hurricane Lane drenched them later in the year? I don't know statistically which is more likely, another lava flow in Puna, or a flood on Kauai, but both are bound to happen.
What provided the urgency for road repairs on Kauai? Why do Hanalei Valley residents need access faster than Puna residents, who also have farms, crops, and homes?
If it isn't wise to rebuild in the LERZ as some have suggested, and Hawaii County drags it feet month after month dawdling, why is it the smart decision, the right decision to allow Kauai residents to quickly rebuild in a recurring flood zone?
What's the difference?
NBC has a good story about their recovery efforts. Their road was repaired for $90 million so residents could quickly gain access and return to their property. Initially it appeared not enough homes were damaged to meet FEMA's threshold for assistance, so Gov. Ige stepped in and added some damaged Oahu homes in the "revised" total.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-ameri...ld-n987696
It's a story of survival, and triumph over adversity, but it also has me thinking, what is the difference between the recovery efforts on Kauai and those in Puna after the lava flow? Why was their road immediately repaired? Why was there no discussion that perhaps landowners in the Hanalei Valley shouldn't be allowed to rebuild? Isn't it likely a major flood will again occur in the Hanalei Valley, as it did when Hurricane Lane drenched them later in the year? I don't know statistically which is more likely, another lava flow in Puna, or a flood on Kauai, but both are bound to happen.
What provided the urgency for road repairs on Kauai? Why do Hanalei Valley residents need access faster than Puna residents, who also have farms, crops, and homes?
If it isn't wise to rebuild in the LERZ as some have suggested, and Hawaii County drags it feet month after month dawdling, why is it the smart decision, the right decision to allow Kauai residents to quickly rebuild in a recurring flood zone?
What's the difference?
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves