Hawaii's Catastrophic Flooding: Billion-Dollar Damage

0:00Today is March 21st, here's what's making headlines worldwide. Hawaii is dealing with his worst flooding in more than 20 years after heavy rains pounded already soaked soil on Oahu's North Shore. Officials evacuated 5,500 people north upon Alulu as muddy water swept away homes and cars. A 120-year-old dam near Wahiawa, race fears a failure, though its levels later dropped. The deluge came from back-to-back storms, including a cone aloe that dumped 8-12 inches of rain overnight in parts of Oahu, with up to 16 inches at the island's highest peak. Most of the state remains under a flood watch and forecasters predict another 6-8 inches over the next few days. Residents and leaders described the damage as catastrophic, with dozens of homes hit hard and early estimates topping $1 billion for repairs, to roads, schools, airports, and even a hospital on Maui. Search teams used air and water rescues, airlifting 72 kids and adults from a youth camp on higher ground. Crews continue

1:03monitoring the aging Wahiawa dam, built over a century ago for sugar plantations, and now classified as high hazard. Its water rose close to capacity, but ease by late Friday, and state officials are set to vote next week on taking ownership from DOL to upgrade it. With federal aid assured, and the National Guard on scene, Hawaii braces for more rain while assessing the full toll from this unprecedented event.