Storm damage counted in millions

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 8

Storm damage counted in millions

NZPA Honolulu A hurricane hit Hawaii with 180 km/h winds, causing millions of dollars in damage, killing one person and injuring 10 before it swept out to sea again yesterday. About 6700 people were forced into emergency shelters.

Officials said that Hurricane Iwa was at least three times more destructive than the last hurricane to hit the islands 23 years ago. One United States Navy man was killed, four sailors were hurt and at least six civilians suffered minor injuries as the storm began tearing into the northern end of the islands .on Wednesday night, ripping off roofs and

knocking down trees and power poles. The Mayor of Lihue, Mr Eduardo Malapit, said that he expected damage on the island of Kauai alone to total $l5 million to $2O million, almost four times the $5.7 million devastation left when Hurricane Dot went through in August, 1959. The Governor, Mr George Ariyoshi, who flew to Kauai to tour the stricken areas, said that the damage appeared to be the worst he had seen in any of the disasters during his eight years as Governor. Mr Ariyoshi, saying he was “shocked at the extent of the damage,” pledged to issue a disaster proclamation to

seek State and Federal relief funds. Hardest hit this time were the islands of Kauai and Oahu, where hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged. On Kauai, the business district of Lihue, a city of about 4000 people, was heavily damaged. There was no word yesterday on the fate of several hundred native Hawaiians who live west of Kauai on the small, privately owned island of Niihau, which was directly in the path of the eye of the storm. On Oahu, the most populous island where Honolulu is located, large areas were still without electricity yes-

terday. but all roads had been cleared and most businesses were open.

Two Coast Guard patrol boats sank in the high waves, but their crews escaped injury. A third ran aground while towing two sailboats to safety. Navy ships put out to sea to escape the storm. A Navy seaman was fatally injured and four, other crewmen suffered injuries when the guided missile destroyer Goldsborough was hit by heavy waves just as it cleared Pearl Harbour, said a Navy spokesman. Winds up to 130 km/h struck Honolulu, south-east of the storm’s centre. Electricity in the capita] was knocked out for three hours

and roads were flooded. About 5000 residents of low-lying areas of Kauai had been moved to higher ground, a local emergency official said. Coastal areas of sparsely populated Niihau were also evacuated. As much as 60cm of water covered some streets along Waikiki Beach. Palm fronds littered the area. Stores, bars and restaurants closed early, with sandbags placed in front of their doors to block flooding inside and windows taped to prevent glass from flying. Hurricane Iwa — pronounced Ee-vah — is the Hawaiian name for a strongflying seabird with large wings.