Catastrophic Hawaiian Islands Flooding
This past weekend state and local authorities issued widespread evacuation orders and warnings across Hawai’i as catastrophic flooding from Kona low storms placed thousands of residents in immediate danger on O’ahu and neighboring islands.
As of Monday, March 23, 2026, evacuation orders for 5,500 residents north of Honolulu have been lifted, and more than 2,000 residents are without power. Infrastructure damage is widespread, and repeated rounds of heavy rain have left the ground saturated, magnifying flood impacts. Officials warn that life‑threatening flash flooding will likely continue throughout the week as a second Kona low system approaches. Concern remains for more than 4,000 residents downstream of the Wahiawa Dam after determining that the 120‑year‑old dam is potentially at risk of failure, despite dam levels temporarily stabilizing.
Hawai’i Governor Josh Green activated the Hawai’i National Guard, citing “extremely dangerous” conditions, describing chest‑high floodwaters and confirming multiple rooftop rescues. More than 230 people have already been rescued, and several pet‑friendly shelters remain open for displaced residents across O’ahu. Emergency crews are also closely monitoring road closures and damaged bridges, as landslides and debris flows continue to threaten isolated communities.
The International Code Council extends its support to all individuals and communities affected by this devastating flooding. We are actively coordinating with our members as well as other state and local officials to understand response and recovery efforts across the impacted islands and offer our assistance.
ICC and the Association of State Floodplain Managers support the deployment of qualified building officials and floodplain managers through mutual aid agreements and disaster assistance networks to help jurisdictions conduct essential post‑disaster safety assessments.
If you are a building official in Hawai’i and need assistance with post‑disaster building safety evaluations or building code-related issues, please contact Bryan Imai, ICC Government Relations representative for Hawai’i, or Karl Fippinger, Vice President of Fire and Disaster Mitigation. We stand ready to support you and the communities you serve during this critical time.
Disaster Resources