hawaii is under a statewide flood watch after a severe storm prompted mass evacuations and rescues. Governor Josh Green and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said the storm has produced historic rainfall, saturated soils and put an old dam at risk. As of March 20, 2026 ET officials ordered thousands from low-lying communities to higher ground and activated shelter and hotel programs for displaced residents.
Hawaii emergency updates
Evacuation orders and road closures were concentrated north of Honolulu, where authorities told roughly 5, 500 people to leave and rising waters lifted homes and cars. More than 230 people have been rescued while emergency crews responded to flooded streets, damaged bridges and a building collapse in high muddy floodwaters. Officials warned a 120-year-old dam on Oahu is at risk of failure and flash flood warnings were issued across Oahu, Maui, Molokai and the Big Island by local emergency management and the National Weather Service. Some parts of the islands received 40 to 50 inches of rain in the last 10 days; forecasters said Oahu could see an additional four to six inches while parts of Maui could get between four and 12 inches. The state activated a program to offer discounted hotel rates for displaced people, and damage could exceed $1 billion, amplifying concerns about infrastructure across hawaii.
Immediate reactions
Governor Josh Green, Governor of the State of Hawaii, urged calm but warned of the storm’s severity: “Don’t take this storm lightly. ” At a news conference he added, “This is the largest flood that we’ve had in Hawaii in 20 years. ” Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, praised emergency workers and urged residents to “stay safe” and to “take the storm as seriously as you can. ” Sienna Creasy, Waialua resident, described waking to neighbors screaming and said, “I woke up to screams from my neighbors in Waialua hours before any alarms went off. ” Creasy said locals used tractors and construction equipment to lift people to safety and urged others to move to higher ground.
Quick context
This storm is the second severe weather event to hit the islands in the last week and follows a Kona low that already saturated soils, meaning much less new rain is needed to trigger flooding. Honolulu Department of Emergency Management and the Maui Emergency Management Agency have issued flash flood watches and urged residents to avoid flooded areas.
What’s next
Officials warned more rain is expected over the weekend and flash flood watches could remain in place through Sunday afternoon ET as crews continue rescues and damage assessments. Authorities say the immediate priorities are stabilizing threatened infrastructure, monitoring the at-risk dam and moving people out of harm’s way; because the ground is already saturated it will take far less additional rainfall to trigger new flooding across hawaii. Updates and evacuation information will be issued by emergency management agencies as conditions evolve, and residents are advised to follow official instructions and seek shelters if ordered.
