Emergency officials in Hawaii ordered mandatory evacuations near a dam on Oahu's northern coast on Friday, warning it was at imminent risk of failure due to dangerously high reservoir levels. Water in the Wahiawa Reservoir was just feet below the dam's 90-foot height, surpassing the previous record of 85 feet set in 2005. The 85.10-foot level triggered the evacuation order as floodwaters already cut off road access in areas like Waialua and Haleiwa.

Officials described the situation as 'catastrophic,' urging residents to seek higher ground immediately. The flash flooding threat emerged days after another storm dumped over a foot of rain across Hawaii, saturating the ground and making even moderate rainfall more dangerous. 'Because the ground was so primed for this storm, we’re seeing things get bad pretty quickly,' said meteorologist Stephen Parker. Rescue efforts were underway for people, including children, stranded by the floodwaters, with the governor confirming their safety but noting difficulties in evacuation due to the deluge.