Heavy rains fell through the night on Kaua'i and Civil Defense officials are encouraging people returning to their homes today to assess their homes' conditions.

Anyone who feels their homes are unsafe should also evacuate, officials said.

One body was recovered yesterday after the reservoir broke and six people are still missing.

Today, two members of Hawai'i's Congressional delegation, Sen. Dan Inouye and Rep. Neil Abercrombie, expressed sympathy and pledged their support.

"If local and state officials conclude that this is a situation that requires federal assistance, I am prepared to seek whatever aid is needed," Inouye said.

Abercrombie said the reservoir's collapse demonstrates the need for action on a bill that he co-sponsored that would provide up to $350 million in state grants for dam repair and rehabilitation.

The grants would cover up to 65 percent of the costs of repair, replacement, reconstruction or removal of unsafe dams.

"The Kaloko tragedy underlines the terrifying consequences of ignoring dam safety," Abercrombie said. "Dam failures make the national news, but the root problem is the unseen deterioration that occurs over decades without being repaired. It's part of a larger issue of allowing our national infrastructure to crumble away. We need to invest in programs that will ensure the safety of our people and keep our economy moving."

Coast Guard aircraft and boats this morning were searching the nearshore waters for victims of yesterday's Kaua'i flood, as emergency crews worked to lower the water level in the threatened Morita Reservoir.

Water levels behind the Morita Reservoir dam had dropped 20 feet or more after excavators were used to widen the earthen dam's spillway, and crews expected to widen it further today.

"The Corps of Engineers inspected it and determined that it won't be safe until it's down to half the original level" of water, said Kaua'i Civil Defense coordinator Mark Marshall.

Meanwhile, the Waita Reservoir above Koloa Town was full and spilling water over its spillway, but did not appear to be in any danger of failing, he said.

"It was inspected by the Department of Land and Natural Resources dam safety crew," Marshall said.

Flood levels at Waikomo Stream in Koloa, which had caused evacuations yesterday, had dropped below evacuation levels, he said.

Gov. Linda Lingle flew over the flood site earlier this morning aboard a National Guard helicopter and met with affected residents in Kilauea at mid-morning. Kuhio Highway remained closed at the Wailapa Stream, keeping the north shore of Kaua'i entirely isolated from the rest of the island except by air traffic.

Kamalu Road near Wailua Homesteads Park was closed due to flooding, and county authorities expressed concern about possible flooding at Halfway Bridge, Maluhia Road, the Wailua Golf Course and Rice Street near Nawiliwili.

Although displaced residents were finding places to stay with friends and neighbors, the county kept three shelters open, at Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, Kilauea Neighborhood Center and Kula School.