The Maui News

Emergency officials flew over Maui on Wednesday to identify wind and flooding damage in the wake of a Kona low weather system that set new rainfall records across the state this week.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and the Maui Emergency Management Agency boarded a Civil Air Patrol flight from the Kahului Airport to assess damage from the air. The Civil Air Patrol took aerial photographs of several damaged areas, including Kihei, but was unable to photograph the Kula region because of cloud cover, HI-EMA said in a news release on Wednesday. Another flight is expected to assess that area today, weather permitting.

County and state emergency managers also plan to send out damage assessment teams in the coming days to document the storm damage.

Residents who can safely access their properties should quickly document the damage by taking video or photos before cleaning up and contact their insurance companies as soon as possible, HI-EMA said. After documenting any damages, residents should begin cleanup immediately and do not need to wait for a flood insurance adjuster or inspector to come to their home.

Maui County residents can report damage by accessing the form on the county’s homepage at mauicounty.gov.

A statewide crisis cleanup line has also been activated for those impacted by flooding. Anyone needing volunteers to help with cleanup or debris removal can dial 211 and request assistance.

For more information on disaster preparedness, visit ready.hawaii.gov.