Hurricane Iniki Essay, Research Paper

Hurricane Iniki

Kauia County, Hawaii consists of the islands of Kauia and Niihau. Kauia is a 555-square-mile island with a population of about 57,000 people. Lihue, the largest city on Kauia, is home to an estimated 12,000 people. Kauia is one of the wettest spots on Earth with an annual rainfall averaging 400 inches. It has seven microclimates including desert-like conditions on the west to tropical rain forests in the interior. Many species of endangered or threatened birds reside on the island. Nicknamed “The Garden Island,” for its lush, green appearance, Kauia attracts one million tourists per year.

Niihau lies to the west side of Kauia. The island also serves to block the trade wind rain clouds that keep Kauia green. It is a 73-square-mile island that is privately owned by the Robinson Family. Niihau is called “The Forbidden Island,” because it is off limits to everyone except its 300 or so native Hawaiian residents and guests of its owners. The residents raise cattle and sheep, cultivate bees, and collect colorful see shells to make leis. In this nineteenth century lifestyle, Niihau maintains the spirit of old Hawaii.

Hurricanes, floods, and tsunamis threaten Kauia County each year. The county reduces its risks with extremely active mitigation efforts. (FEMA, 1999) The entire island of Kauia is equipped with sirens that are sounded when danger approaches. Residents with hearing impairments are alerted by designated organization members going door to door. Emergency shelters, consisting of schools, community centers, and hotels, are set up for hurricane events. Kauia also has public awareness programs to inform residents of what to do in preparation for hurricane. Even with all of this mitigation in effect, the residents of Kauia were still not quite prepared for Hurricane Iniki.

Hurricane Iniki originated over the warm waters about 1600 miles southwest of Baja California on September 5, 1993. It was labeled Tropical Depression Eighteen-E as it moved west at 10 knots with a wind speeds at about 25 knots. It moved into the Central Pacific on September 6th where it remained a tropical depression for two days. As it continued to intensify, it was upgraded to a tropical storm and named Iniki of September 8th. Iniki continued on a westward path increasing its motion to 12 knots. Iniki was then upgraded to a hurricane on September 9th, 470 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii moving west-northwest.

Date: 5-13 SEP 1992

Hurricane INIKI

ADV LAT LON TIME WIND PR STAT

1 11.90 -133.00 09/05/18Z 25 1010 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

2 11.90 -135.90 09/06/00Z 25 1010 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

3 12.00 -137.20 09/06/06Z 25 1010 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

4 12.10 -138.50 09/06/12Z 30 1009 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

5 12.20 -139.80 09/06/18Z 30 1008 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

6 12.30 -141.10 09/07/00Z 25 1008 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

7 12.30 -141.70 09/07/06Z 25 1007 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

8 12.20 -142.40 09/07/12Z 30 1006 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

9 12.10 -143.00 09/07/18Z 30 1004 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

10 12.00 -144.50 09/08/00Z 35 1002 TROPICAL STORM

11 12.00 -146.00 09/08/06Z 40 1000 TROPICAL STORM

12 12.10 -147.50 09/08/12Z 40 1000 TROPICAL STORM

13 12.30 -149.00 09/08/18Z 50 996 TROPICAL STORM

14 12.40 -150.20 09/09/00Z 60 996 TROPICAL STORM

15 12.70 -151.60 09/09/06Z 65 992 HURRICANE-1

16 13.00 -152.90 09/09/12Z 65 992 HURRICANE-1

17 13.40 -154.30 09/09/18Z 80 984 HURRICANE-1

18 13.80 -155.50 09/10/00Z 85 980 HURRICANE-2

19 14.30 -156.90 09/10/06Z 90 960 HURRICANE-2

20 14.70 -157.80 09/10/12Z 100 960 HURRICANE-3

21 15.20 -158.60 09/10/18Z 100 951 HURRICANE-3

22 15.90 -159.30 09/11/00Z 110 948 HURRICANE-3

23 16.80 -159.80 09/11/06Z 115 947 HURRICANE-4

24 18.20 -160.20 09/11/12Z 120 939 HURRICANE-4

25 19.50 -160.00 09/11/18Z 125 938 HURRICANE-4

26 21.50 -159.80 09/12/00Z 115 945 HURRICANE-4

27 23.70 -159.40 09/12/06Z 100 959 HURRICANE-3

28 25.70 -159.00 09/12/12Z 80 980 HURRICANE-1

29 28.10 -158.90 09/12/18Z 80 980 HURRICANE-1

30 30.40 -158.80 09/13/00Z 65 990 HURRICANE-1

31 33.00 -158.70 09/13/06Z 65 990 HURRICANE-1

32 35.00 -158.50 09/13/12Z 50 1000 TROPICAL STORM

33 36.70 -158.10 09/13/18Z 40 1002 TROPICAL STORM

Information on the Unisys World Wide Web server is Copyright ?1994-2001 Unisys. All rights reserved.

Hurricane Iniki moved west of Hilo, and many residents thought it would miss Hawaii. It had reached the western edge of the “subtropical high pressure ridge, a semi-permanent feature found north of Hawaii that normally keeps hurricane south of the islands.” Unfortunately, a large low-pressure trough weakened the ridge causing Iniki to take a more northern path toward the islands. Iniki accelerated with wind speeds of 110 knots with gusts reaching 135 knots about 400 miles south of Lihue, Kauia.

Hurricane watches were put into effect for Kauia and Niihau on September 10th at 5:30 p.m. They quickly turned into warnings later that evening around 8:30 p.m. Hurricane preparations started being made by the residents of Kauia. Reconnaissance aircraft reported winds had increase to 125 knots and pressure was down to 938 millibars (lowest ever recorded in the central Pacific hurricane at the time), as Iniki approached the Kauian coast. (Rosendal, 1996) High surf advisories were continued for all of the Hawaiian chain.

On September 11 at 5:30 a.m., sirens were sounded all over Kauia. Hurricane preparations intensified as residents tuned into the local broadcast station for the latest updates. Workers were told to stay home unless it was imperative they be at work. Windows were boarded up, and cars were covered. Many vacationers on Kauia changed their plans to depart immediately.

Hurricane Iniki hit the Kauia at approximately 1:30 p.m. At that point, the wind speeds were at 125 knots with a pressure of 945 millibars. Local resident, Carol Bain, reported the sound of the wind was “absolutely horrible.” The eye passed over the south coast of Kauia at about 3:30 p.m. At that time, residents quickly reboarded windows where the protection had blown away using whatever they had. Interior doors were even taken off the hinges and used to block the damaging winds. (Bain, 2001) The eye lasted for about 40 minutes then departed Haena on the north coast. The hurricane was over by 5:00 p.m. Iniki moved north passed the island and dissipated into the Pacific shortly after.

Hurricane Iniki devastated the island of Kauia. The estimated maximum sustained winds over land were 140 mph. In some of the islands higher points, winds were reported to be up to 227 mph. (Asycue, 1996) A category IV hurricane had struck the island. In just a few hours, Iniki left 8,000 people homeless and damaged or destroyed 15,000 homes. Thankfully, only six deaths were attributed to the hurricane. Schools, museums, and historical sites experienced structural damage, book loss, and vegetation loss. Artifacts and collections were also lost to the winds. The sugar cane waste-burning cogeneration plants, which produce 40 percent of the island’s electricity, were largely undamaged and operational. Utility substations also sustained little damage. Unfortunately, 6,000 poles, carrying phone and electric lines, had totally collapsed and only 11,000 were considered operational. This left about 80 percent of Kauia without power. (EQE, 1992) Kauia also suffered environmental damage. Iniki destroyed a significant amount of the dry forests. Strands of Acacia koa, a prized hardwood, were wiped out. Sugar cane, once standing eight feet high, and macadamia nut crops were flattened. Iniki caused an estimated 78 million dollars in agricultural damage. President Bush declared Kauia a disaster area.

Relief efforts began immediately. Difficulty first occurred in communication. Radio towers had fallen, and microwave antenna dishes were severely damaged. Amateur radio “hams” played a key role in helping relief organizations communicate. Two-way communications were important in identifying medical emergencies, locating work crews and equipment, and developing action plans. After communications were set up, road crews began another difficult task. The roadways and airports had to be cleared in order to access the injured and bring in supplies. When this job was done, the amount of debris generated three to five years’ worth of trash. Electric, water, and phone lines also needed to be restored. Pumping stations began supplying water in four days, while electricity and phone restoration took weeks.

Mitigation was a success as far as the residents of Kauia being physically prepared. Emergency preparation information is supplied to the public through utility companies, such as Hawaii Electric Company, and local phone books. The locality of shelters and coastal evacuation zones are given in this information. A list of basic supplies (radio, batteries, flashlight, water, and non-perishable food) that will be needed in the event of a hurricane is also provided. It also explains the importance of tying down or storing loose objects outside, such as lawn furniture. These objects may become hazards in excessive winds. The information suggests taping or boarding up windows to prevent breakage. Resident, Herman Paleka, reported, “Early warnings from the news media did prepare us for this calamity.” It is evident from the low number of deaths and injuries that the residents followed the information supplied by their community.

Although the residents were physically prepared, most of their houses were not. Approximately 90 percent of the island’s wood-frame buildings sustained some measure of damage. Primarily, the damage was slight to moderate involving windows and roofs. An estimated 10 percent of the buildings had moderate to major damage. (EQE) Large portions of metal sheathing were removed by the strong winds due to inadequate fastenings. Water penetration and wind-borne debris then caused major damages due to the roof failure. Coastal homes suffering from flooding typically had their lowest floor constructed directly onto the ground surface. Buildings performed well where hurricane clips and metal straps on wood frame structures were adequately sized and correctly applied. Most residential buildings were not engineered, and consequently were poorly designed and built. (FEMA, 1999)

After Hurricane Iniki, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stepped in to provide help. They used their Building Performance Assessment Team (BPAT) to analyze buildings, particularly homes, destroyed in the hurricane. The analysis created a report called “Building Performance: Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii.” The report provided observations regarding the structural flaws resulting in damage. It also provided recommendations to help insure a greater structural integrity in the event this occurred again. The report was distributed to design professionals, local officials, and the general public across Hawaii. A copy can also be requested by calling FEMA. FEMA hopes this information will help prevent damage of this magnitude in the future. They have also created other manuals and reports, such as the Coastal Construction Manual, to further aide this effort. (FEMA, 1999)

Hurricane Iniki caused extensive damage to buildings on Kauia. As a result, many insurance companies collapsed. (Steinberg, 2000) They simply didn’t have sufficient reinsurance to cover the amount damage claims submitted. Many mainland insurance companies withdrew from the Hawaii market altogether. This caused homeowners insurance with hurricane coverage hard to secure. After the state stepped in and created the Hawaii Relief Fund, premiums doubled for less coverage. It appears the insurance companies weren’t quite prepared for a disaster of this magnitude.

http://www.fema.gov/mit/bpat/bpat006.htm

For victims of Iniki, funds came in from all directions. The IRS gave taxpayers relief by extending due dates for tax forms. Congress passed a bill giving 10.5 billion dollars to organizations, including the Farmers Home Administration, FEMA, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, for disaster relief in response to Hurricane Iniki. AT&T held a Hurricane Relief benefit concert to raise money for victims of Andrew and Iniki. FEMA contributed 257.6 million dollars to aide in the disaster.

Mitigation for Hawaii is an ongoing process. Public programs for emergency preparedness are being carried on and added to in the event this happens again. With FEMA’s reports and manuals, contractors and residents of Kauia are taking note and rebuilding to prevent the future destruction of their homes.

The regeneration of plants and the production of crops show the island recovering from the hurricane. Hotels have been rebuilt along the blue water coasts. The tourists have also returned to enjoy the Hawaiian paradise. The people of Kauia may have recovered from Iniki, but they have not forgotten. Residents have built new, stronger home or have retrofitted their old homes.

With Hurricane Iniki being a class IV hurricane when it struck Kauia, it caused major damage to the island and its people. Homes, farms, and lives were destroyed. Mitigation helped the residents protect themselves from Iniki, but it still got their homes. Houses were not properly secure from the strength of the hurricane. With help from FEMA and other organizations, precautionary measures can be taken to help insure the people of Kauia that the next hurricane will not take as much from them.

Bibliography

References

Cook, C. (1990) Hawaii: From the Skies of Paradise. Honolulu: Mutual Publishing

Ayscue, J. K. (1996, November) Hurricane Damage to Residential Structures: Risk and Mitigation. [http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/wp/wp94/wp94.html]

Steinberg, T. (2000) Acts of God: The Unnatural History of Natural Disaster in America. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 118, 190-191.

Project Impact: County of Kauia. (1999, October 27) Federal Emergency Management Agency [http://www.fema.gov/impact/cities/im_hi02.htm]

Discus, D. (1993, January) Hurricane Iniki. WAAC Newsletter, vol 15, p. 16.

Hurricane Iniki: An EQE Summary Report. (1992) EQE International. [http://www.eqe.com/publications/iniki/iniki.htm]

Whitflow, J. (1979) Disasters: The Anatomy of Environmental Hazards. Athens, Georgia: The University of Georgia Press, p. 373.

Paleka, H. (1995) Hurricane Iniki Experience. Mormon Pacific Historial Society [http://www.mormonpacific.org/Iniki-Paleka.htm]

Hashiro, R. (1993, February) Hurricane Iniki Rallies Amateurs. American Radio Relay League, p. 19-22.

Rosendal, H. (2001, October 7) Hurricane Iniki [http://www.members.aol.com/Rosendalhe/hurrican2.htm]

Ezzell, C. (1992, November 7) In the Wake of Hurricane Iniki. Science News, vol 142, p. 314.

Building Performance: Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii (1999, October 22) FEMA, [http://www.gema.gov/MIT/bpat/bpat006.htm]

Tabrah, R. (1980). Hawaii: A Bicentennial History. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., p. 21.

Knapp, D. (1992, September) Hurricane Iniki hits Kauia. CNN, [http://www.cnnsf/newsvault/output/inikihur.html]

Moore, T. (1997, September 11) Iniki’s Economic Impact Fading. Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Planning for Disasters in Hawaii (1999, August 20) FEMA, [http://www.fema.gov/reg-ix/1999/r9n17.htm]

Beckard, E. S. (1997, January 9) Kauia’s Economy Suffers as Scars from Hurricane Iniki Heal. Seattle Post-Intelligencer.