Teach children about flash floods

Advertiser Staff

With dozens of spots across O'ahu that provide easy access to streams, John Cummings, public information officer for O'ahu Civil Defense, said parents should pay close attention whenever the National Weather Service announces heavy rains or a flash flood watch.

"Those little streams that you might have jumped over as a kid can get flooded very quickly and turn to killers when it rains as much as it has this past weekend," Cummings said. "The draw of streams is just like a magnet to kids. Parents need to be aware of where their kids are and what they are doing, and talk to them about things like flash floods and those kind of dangers."

According to Civil Defense, waterways in Hawai'i frequently dam up, and when the dam breaks, a flash flood results. The agency advises:

• If a stream starts to swell, it's time to get out quickly or move to high ground. Don't try to cross a swollen, fast-moving stream. Wait until the water goes down.
• If you have to cross a stream, it is safer to walk through the water than rock-hop; using a walking stick also provides some stability.