Hawaii to take over aging dam after failure scare prompted evacuations [View all]
Source: msn/The Independent
12h
Hawaii is set to acquire a 120-year-old dam that prompted thousands of residents to evacuate last week amid fears of catastrophic failure during heavy rains. The state's land board voted on Friday to acquire the Wahiawa Dam land from Dole Food Co., paving the way for state oversight. This will enable at least $20 million in crucial repairs and an expansion of its spillway.
Located north of Honolulu, the earthen structure was built in 1906 for sugar production by Waialua Agricultural Co., a former Dole subsidiary, and rebuilt after a 1921 collapse. The Department of Land and Natural Resources deems it "high hazard," warning its failure could have fatal consequences.
Residents worry the dam will fail during each substantial rain, said Kathleen Pahinui, who a week ago was among the 5,500 people ordered to evacuate from two communities on Oahu's North Shore, famous for big-wave surfing. Evacuation orders were lifted Saturday when water receded.
State control has long been supported by the governor's office, lawmakers, neighbors and farmers, making Friday's vote a foregone but welcome development, Pahinui said before the vote.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/hawaii-to-take-over-aging-dam-after-failure-scare-prompted-evacuations/ar-AA1ZyZHh
= new reply since forum marked as read