Aerial Footage Shows Floodwaters Gush Over 120-Year-Old Dam Strong water surged over the historic Wahiawa Dam on Friday, March 20, after heavy rain inundated parts of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Aerial footage captured by Jacob VanderVelde depicted the rushing water at the structure, which had been flagged as potentially failing during the crisis, according to an evacuation order from the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management. The dam was later assessed as stable, leading to the lifting of the evacuation order for large portions of the island by Saturday afternoon, March 21. Hawaii Governor Josh Green addressed the situation in a press conference, stating that no fatalities had been reported at this time. He also noted that approximately 200 individuals had been rescued during the event, which has been characterized as the island’s most severe flooding in two decades. The incident highlights the vulnerability of aging infrastructure to extreme weather events, raising concerns about preparedness and maintenance in coastal regions prone to heavy rainfall. Credit for the footage goes to Jacob VanderVelde via Storyful.#wahiawa_dam #jacob_vandervelde #honolulu_department_of_emergency_management #hawaii_governor_josh_green #storyful
