Ladywriter
February 5th, 2008, 08:15 AM
here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22999430/)
HONOLULU - All of Hawaii remained under a flash-flood warning Monday after record rainfall as heavy as 11 inches in 24 hours slammed the island chain, closing schools, damaging dozens of homes and holding out the threat of mandatory evacuations. The National Weather Service said a “high alert status” was in effect for Hilo on the Big Island, the state’s second-largest city, where 10.82 inches of rain was recorded Sunday, breaking the 24-hour record by almost 3½ inches.
“The situation in Hilo is critical and a life-threatening situation now,” said Harry Kim, mayor of the Big Island, which is also called Hawaii. As many as 150 homes had been damaged by floodwaters rising as high as 4 feet, he said.
HONOLULU - All of Hawaii remained under a flash-flood warning Monday after record rainfall as heavy as 11 inches in 24 hours slammed the island chain, closing schools, damaging dozens of homes and holding out the threat of mandatory evacuations. The National Weather Service said a “high alert status” was in effect for Hilo on the Big Island, the state’s second-largest city, where 10.82 inches of rain was recorded Sunday, breaking the 24-hour record by almost 3½ inches.
“The situation in Hilo is critical and a life-threatening situation now,” said Harry Kim, mayor of the Big Island, which is also called Hawaii. As many as 150 homes had been damaged by floodwaters rising as high as 4 feet, he said.