EDITORIAL
Flash-flood alert system worth refining

If there's any way to improve the state's flash-flood warning system in high-risk areas, by all means, let's make the effort.

Flash floods are a significant cause of deaths in the nation, and rank among the perils of hiking in Hawai'i. At any moment, an intense downpour can gush into narrow, steep streams and overwhelm trekkers.

Take the recent case of Kevin Brown and his daughter Elizabeth, both of Kentucky, who were swept to their deaths over Kipahulu waterfall in 'Ohe'o Gulch at Haleakala National Park.

In the same location four years ago, a dozen tourists were stranded by a flash flood after a sudden shower caused a stream to rise to 15 to 20 feet in less than a minute.

According to an article by The Advertiser's Maui County reporter, Timothy Hurley, The U.S. Geological Survey maintains an 'Ohe'o Gulch stream-flow gauge that sends readings to a computer via satellite every 15 minutes.

However, it's not hooked up to an alarm system in the national park.

Now the agency just has to figure out where to place the gauges and determine what conditions should trigger a warning that could be instantly relayed to a nearby facility or set off sirens along the stream.

Of course, running an alarm system through the wilderness would intrude on the environment, which might not sit well with the National Park Service, which runs Haleakala National Park.

Moreover, if a flash flood descends between the 15-minute monitoring interval, it may not be detected until it's too late. The technology would have to be modified to get a real-time reading.

Overall, though, we believe it's worth improving on a flash-flood warning system in hiking areas such as 'Ohe'o Gulch where tragedies have occurred. We want our visitors to experience this awesome slice of nature, but we want them to have a reasonable sense of security as well.

Meanwhile, here are a few safety precautions to observe while hiking in areas prone to flash flooding.

• Listen for distant thunder from a faraway thunderstorm. It could be headed your way.
• Look out for water rising rapidly.
• Go to higher ground and climb to safety.