What should you do if a flood advisory is issued during your Hawaii vacation?
While being bummed out would be a natural answer to that question, it’s much more important that you take action right away. There are three types of flood advisories to look out for: Flash Flood Watch (flooding is possible), Flood Warning (flooding is occurring or will occur soon) and a Flash Flood Warning (flooding is occurring).
In either scenario, here are a few tips to follow (according to the Hawaii County website):
-
Move to higher ground
and tune into a local radio or television station.
-
Avoid hiking or being near mountainous areas.
Landslides or mudslides may occur.
-
Stay out of the ocean.
Dangerous moving debris may get caught up in the flow of water.
-
Do not walk or swim through a flooded area
. It only takes 6 inches of moving water to sweep you off your feet.
-
Stay away from downed power lines
and other electrical wires or fallen trees.
-
Do not drive through flooded areas.
It only takes 1 foot of water to carry a vehicle.
-
Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
Almost half of all flash flood fatalities occur in vehicles. If you approach a flooded roadway, turn around. If water gets into your car, abandon the vehicle and get to higher ground.
