What are my risks?
What are the chances of a hurricane
destroying my home?
No one knows. We can only go on past history. Almost
no one expected a hurricane as powerful as Iniki would strike
Hawaii. The best we can guess is hurricanes in the future will
probably hit Hawaii as frequently as they have in the past. We
know that since 1950 five hurricanes or tropical storms have caused
serious damage in Hawaii. Hurricane Nina in 1957 produced record
winds in Honolulu. Hurricane Dot did a lot of damage on Kauai
in 1959. Hurricane Iwa did extensive damage on Kauai and Oahu
in 1982. Hurricane Estelle produced very high surf on Hawaii and
Maui and floods on Oahu in 1986. Hurricane Iniki did extensive
damage on Kauai and Leeward Oahu in 1992. Since 1950, seven other
tropical storms or hurricanes could have caused serious damage.
These include Hurricane Fernanda in 1993, Hurricane Emilia in
1994, and Hurricane Daniel in August 2000.
Where have the most wind-related
insurance claims been for Hawaii County?
Click
here to download an image.
The data for this map was compiled from various
insurance firms' homeowner policy claims from 1989 to 1999. This
is intended to serve only for a general hazard indicator map and
is not meant as a policy document.
Source: Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund
What are the potential losses
from future hurricanes in Hawaii County?
If a
Category 1 storm as strong as Hurricane Iwa, with winds gusting
at 74 mph, strikes any of the islands in the state, we can guess
from past experience that about 12% of the houses and apartments
could be destroyed or heavily damaged and about 18% would probably
experience minor damages.
If a Category
3 storm strikes any island with the same force as Iniki, with
winds raging at 130 mph, we can guess that about 38% of the homes
will be heavily damaged or destroyed. An additional 40% will probably
have minor damages.
The
following information was extrapolated from Kauai Damage in 1982
and 1992. ($ billion in 1992)
| |
Oahu |
Maui |
Hawaii |
Kauai |
| Iwa-Strength Storm
|
$4.5-7.5 |
$0.8-1.4 |
$0.8-1.4 |
$0.3-0.6 |
| Iniki-Strength
Storm |
$13.9-23.3 |
$2.7-4.5 |
$2.6-4.4 |
$1.1-1.9 |
Source: Hawaii Coastal Hazard Mitigation Planning
Project, Office of Planning, December 1993
Where have strong winds been
measured in Hawaii County?
Click
here to download an image map of strong winds.
On the
big island, northeast trade winds prevail most of the year and
generally blow 10-20 mph. Exceptionally strong and gusty trade
winds (40-60 mph) can, and do, occur.
High winds
associated with Kona storms tend to approach from the south and
southwest. Such storms have been recorded with hurricane strength
speeds, such as in December 1996 along the Kohala Coast.
While
the Big Island has not sustained a direct hit by a hurricane,
several strong tropical storms have brought about considerable
damage. Hurricane Estelle (July 1986) kicked up winds of 50 mph
and demolished 5 homes along the southeast coast. Tropical Storm
Dora also effected the big island in December 1993.
Tornadoes
have been reported along the Kona Coast in February 1982 and January
1971, as well as along the Hilo and Puna coast in April 1986.
Source: Fletcher, Charles, Eric Grossman, Bruce Richmond. Atlas
of Natural Hazards in the Hawaiian Coastal Zone. 2000.