The mayor and city officials toured areas on the North Shore, Waipahu and the Wai'anae Coast today that were hard hit by Thursday's drenching rains.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann reassured residents that the city was trying to quickly reach a damage estimate so federal aid could be applied for.

"I wanted to do this yesterday," Hannemann said, as he surveyed the damage in Hale'iwa and Waialua, "but I didn't want to get in the way of the first responders."

In Hale'iwa he talked with Brian Buszta, who lives on Kamehameha Highway across from Killer Tacos. Buszta said the flooding ruined his car and swept away all the tools of his construction business.

"We found our clothes dryer 300 yards away," he said.

The mayor told him that damage assessments would be made quickly, so aid could be applied for. City officials handed out the hotline number to call to report storm damage (768-4385) and other information.

The Red Cross was handing out cleaning supplies to people whose homes had been hit by water and mud when Opaeula, Helemano and Paukauila streams flooded.

"It got crazy," Buszta told the mayor. "It was scary."

Buszta said he deeply appreciated the mayor and other officials coming out today. "I didn't expect him to come out here," Buszta said. "We appreciate it that somebody cares."

More rain is expected on O'ahu tonight, and a flash flood watch is in effect until late tonight.