Hurricane Iniki

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Hurricane Iniki
Central Pacific on record)
Areas affectedHawaii (particularly Kauaʻi)
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1992 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Iniki (

Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. It had recorded wind gusts of 225 mph (362 km/h) as evidenced by an anemometer that was found blown into the forest during clean up. It was the first hurricane to hit the state since Hurricane Iwa in the 1982 season
, and is the only known major hurricane to hit the state. Iniki dissipated on September 13 about halfway between Hawaii and Alaska.

Iniki caused around $3.1 billion (equivalent to $7 billion in 2023) in damage and seven deaths. This made Iniki, at the time, the costliest natural disaster on record in the state, as well as the third-costliest United States hurricane. Iniki struck just 18 days after Hurricane Andrew, the costliest tropical cyclone ever at the time, struck Florida.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) failed to issue tropical cyclone warnings and watches 24 hours in advance. Despite the lack of early warning, only seven deaths ensued. Damage was greatest on Kauaʻi, where the hurricane destroyed more than 1,400 houses and severely damaged more than 5,000. Though not directly in the path of the eye, Oʻahu experienced moderate damage from wind and storm surge.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The origin of Iniki is unclear, but it possibly began as a

subtropical ridge to the north, the depression continued westward, or slightly south of due west. On September 8, the CPHC upgraded the depression to tropical storm status, giving it the name Iniki, which is Hawaiian for a sharp and piercing wind.[1]

Iniki (left) as a newly formed tropical storm next to Hurricane Orlene, on September 8

Iniki gradually intensified as its track shifted to the north. The storm moved around the western edge of the subtropical ridge, which was weakening due to an upper-level

Saffir-Simpson scale. The approaching trough caused Iniki to accelerate to the north-northeast toward the western Hawaiian islands.[1]

On September 11, a reconnaissance aircraft observed maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (233 km/h), with gusts to 173 mph (278 km/h), making it a Category 4 hurricane. The flight also observed a minimum

landfall on the southern coast of Kauai near Waimea with winds of 140 mph (230 km/h), making it the strongest hurricane on record to strike Hawaii. Iniki moved rapidly across the island, and about 40 minutes after landfall, the hurricane re-emerged into the Pacific Ocean as it accelerated away from the state. The hurricane thereafter weakened, dropping to tropical storm status by September 13. That day, Iniki transitioned into an extratropical cyclone as it became integrated with an approaching cold front, while located about halfway between Hawaii and Alaska.[1]

Preparations

While Iniki was in its development stages, various tropical cyclone forecast models anticipated a range of possibilities for the hurricane's future trajectory, ranging from a landfall on the Big Island to a path to the west, away from the state. The hurricane initially followed a trajectory similar to other storms in the region, passing south of the state. The CPHC relied on the Miami-based National Hurricane Center for the models, and lacked a detailed analysis on each model run, which caused errors in forecasting. The agency also had limited satellite imagery and direct observations to track the hurricane. As such, the CPHC failed to issue tropical cyclone warnings and watches for the hurricane well in advance, although the agency warned for the potential of high surf. For several days prior to the disaster, the CPHC and the news media forecast Iniki to remain well south of the island chain.[4]

Two days before the storm struck, the Naval Western Oceanography Center on Oʻahu recommended that the

Honolulu. Had it hit there, Iniki, along with Hurricane Andrew and Typhoon Omar, would have struck each of the three National Weather Service offices responsible for tropical cyclone warnings within a two-month period.[4]

In response to the approaching hurricane, about 38,000 people evacuated to public shelters, including 8,000 on Kauaʻi and 30,000 people in Oʻahu. On Kauaʻi, schools were canceled, and the traffic was light during the evacuation, with streets clear by mid-morning. Rather than sending tourists to public shelters, two major hotels kept their occupants in the buildings during Iniki's passage of Kauaʻi.[5] Some residents rode out the hurricane in their homes. According to a post-storm survey, there was no one on the island who did not hear about the impending storm.[4] On Oʻahu, all schools, and most businesses, were closed during the storm's passage. Only critical government employees worked during the storm. Officials opened 110 public shelters on Oʻahu, including some schools meant for refuge only; this meant that they did not provide food, cots, blankets, medications or other comfort items. Roughly one-third of Oʻahu's population participated in the evacuation, though many others went to the house of a family member or friend for shelter. Officials assessed that the execution of the evacuations went well, beginning with the vulnerable coastal area. For those in need, vans and buses gave emergency transportation, while police manned certain overused intersections. The two main problems that occurred during the evacuation were lack of parking at shelters and exit routes for the coastlines.[5] On the Big Island, officials ordered for residents within 300 ft (91 m) of the coastline to evacuate to higher ground.[4]

Impact

Pacific hurricanes with at least US$500 million in damage without adjusting for inflation
Storm Season Damage (USD) Ref.
Otis 2023 $12–16 billion [6]
Manuel 2013 $4.2 billion [7]
Iniki 1992 $3.1 billion [8]
Odile
 2014 $1.25 billion [9]
Agatha 2010 $1.1 billion [10]
Hilary 2023 $915 million [11]
Willa 2018 $825 million [12]
Madeline 1998 $750 million [13]
Rosa 1994 $700 million [14]
Paul 1982 $520 million [15][16][17]
Octave 1983 $512.5 million [18][19]

Hurricane Iniki was the costliest hurricane to strike the state of Hawaiʻi, causing $3.1 billion in damage. That made it the third-costliest United States hurricane at the time, behind Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Andrew in August 1992, one month prior to Iniki.[8] It was the first significant hurricane to threaten the state since Hurricane Iwa ten years prior.[5] Iniki affected all of Hawaii with high waves and strong winds, with the worst impacts on the island of Kauaʻi.[4] Seven people died during the hurricane – three on Kauaʻi, two offshore, and two on Oahu. The low death toll was likely due to well-executed warnings and preparation.[4] Of the offshore deaths, two were Japanese nationals who died when their boat capsized south of Kauaʻi.[1] There were also around 100 storm-related injuries throughout the state, some of which occurred during the hurricane's aftermath.[4]

Kauaʻi

Hurricane Iniki made landfall on the south-central portion of Kauaʻi, and moved across the island in 40 minutes.[1] Much of the island experienced sustained winds of 100 to 120 mph (160 to 190 km/h). Wind gusts were estimated at 175 mph (282 km/h) at landfall. There was an uncalibrated wind gust of 217 mph (349 km/h) at Makaha Ridge, located at the top of a cliff. A station at Makahuena Point recorded a gust of 143 mph (230 km/h).[4] Based on the island's damage patterns, meteorologist Ted Fujita estimated there were as many as 26 microbursts, which are sudden downdrafts of wind capable of reaching 200 mph (320 km/h). There were also two mini-swirls, which are small localized swirls within the eyewall. In general, the winds descending the island's mountains were more damaging than the upslope winds.[20] In addition to its strong winds, Iniki lashed the southern Kauaʻi coastline with a 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft) storm surge, or rise in water. On top of the surge, the hurricane produced wave heights of 17 ft (5.2 m), with a high water mark of 22.2 ft (6.8 m) at Waikomo Stream near Koloa.[4] The high waves left a debris line more than 800 feet (240 m) inland. Because it moved quickly through the island, there were no reports of significant rainfall.[5]

Hurricane Iniki making landfall on Kauaʻi

Iniki's passage left extensive damage throughout Kauaʻi, with 14,350 homes damaged to some degree. Only the western portion of the island escaped the severe damage. Three people died on the island – one due to flying debris, one to a collapsed house, and one due to a heart attack. Across Kauaʻi, Iniki destroyed 1,421 houses,[4] including 63 that were lost from the high waves and water. The hurricane also severely damaged 5,152 homes, while 7,178 received minor damage,[1] which left more than 7,000 people homeless.[21] High waters damaged several hotels and condominiums along the island's southern shore.[4] A few were restored quickly, though some took several years to be rebuilt. One hotel—the Coco Palms Resort famous for Elvis Presley's Blue Hawaii—never reopened after the hurricane.[22]

Hurricane Iniki's making landfall during daylight hours, combined with the popularity of camcorders, led many Kauaʻi residents to record much of the damage as it was occurring. The footage was later used to create an hour-long video documentary.[23] Commercial air service was suspended.[24]

Iniki's high winds also downed 26.5% of the island's transmission poles, 37% of its distribution poles, and 35% of its 800-mile (1,300 km) distribution wire system. The entire island lacked electricity and television service for an extended period of time.[21] Electric companies restored only 20% of the island's power service within four weeks of Iniki, while other areas were without power for up to three to four months. Also affected by the storm was the agricultural sector.[1] Though much of the sugar cane was already harvested,[21] what was left was severely damaged. The winds destroyed tender tropical plants like bananas and papayas and uprooted or damaged fruit and nut trees.[1]

Wind damage to trees from Iniki
Sidewalk and tree damage from Iniki

The high winds stripped much of Kauai from its vegetation, wrecking sugar cane fields, as well as fruit and nut trees.[4]

Among those on Kauaʻi was filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who was preparing for the final day of on-location shooting of the film Jurassic Park. He and the 130 of his cast and crew remained safely in a hotel during Iniki's passage.[25][26] According to Spielberg, "every single structure was in shambles; roofs and walls were torn away; telephone poles and trees were down as far as the eye could see." Spielberg included footage of Iniki battering the Kaua'i coastal walls as part of the completed film, where a tropical storm makes up a pivotal part of the plot. Members of the film's crew helped to clear some of the debris off of nearby roads.[25]

Elsewhere

East of the hurricane's landfall, Oʻahu received tropical storm-force winds during Iniki's passage along its southwestern coast, with an island-wide peak gust of 82 mph (132 km/h) in

Barbers Point through Kaʻena.[1] The Waiʻanae coastline experienced the most damage, with waves and storm surge flooding the second floor of beachside apartments.[27] In all, Hurricane Iniki caused several million dollars in property damage,[5] and two deaths on Oʻahu.[1]

High swells affected the southwestern coasts of Maui and the Big Island, which damaged boats, harbors, and coastal structures.

Napoʻopoʻo on Kealakekua Bay lost some sand and to this day has never been the same.[29]

Aftermath

Pacific hurricanes with a wind speed of 140 mph (220 km/h) or higher at landfall
Hurricane Season Wind speed Ref.
Otis 2023 160 mph (260 km/h) [30]
Patricia 2015 150 mph (240 km/h) [31]
Madeline 1976 145 mph (230 km/h) [32]
Iniki 1992 [33]
Twelve 1957 140 mph (220 km/h) [34]
"Mexico" 1959 [34]
Kenna 2002 [35]
Lidia 2023 [36]
Storm surge from Iniki

Immediately after the storm, many were relieved to have survived the worst of the Category 4 hurricane; their complacency turned to apprehensiveness due to lack of information, as every radio station was out and there was no news available for several days. Because Iniki knocked out electrical power for most of the island, communities held parties to necessarily consume perishable food from unpowered refrigerators and freezers and many hotels prepared and hosted free meals to use up their perishables. Though some food markets allowed those affected to take what they needed, many Kauaʻi citizens insisted on paying. In addition, entertainers from all of Hawaiʻi, including

Honolulu Symphony, provided free concerts to the victims.[22]

Three days after Iniki struck Hawaii, the NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services directed that a disaster survey team investigate the warnings and responsiveness to the hurricane.[4] The passages of Iwa and Iniki within a ten-year period increased public awareness of hurricanes in Hawaii.[20]

The film Jurassic Park was being filmed at the time; the sets used for the deleted scene where Mr. Arnold goes to the shed to turn the power on were destroyed, and the cast and crew took shelter in a hotel. Shots of Iniki made it in to the final film. Looting occurred in the aftermath of Iniki, though it was very minor. A group of Army Corps of Engineers, who experienced the looting of Hurricane Andrew just weeks before, were surprised at the overall calmness and lack of violence on the island. Although electrical power was restored to most of the island approximately six weeks following the hurricane, students returned to Kauaʻi public schools two weeks after the disaster. Kauaʻi citizens remained hopeful for monetary aid from the government or insurance companies, though after six months they felt annoyed with the lack of help.[22] The military effectively provided aid for their immediate needs including prepared meals and passing out MREs (meals ready to eat), though, and help arrived before local officials requested aid.[37]

By four weeks after the hurricane, only 20% of power was restored on Kauaʻi, following the island-wide blackout.[1] Amateur radio proved to be extremely helpful during the three weeks after the storm, with volunteers coming from the neighboring islands as well as from around the Pacific to assist in the recovery. There was support of local government communications in Lihue in the first week of recovery[27] as well as a hastily organized effort by local operators to assist with the American Red Cross and their efforts to provide shelters and disaster relief centers across Kauaʻi.[38]

In the months after the storm, many

John D. Waihee III enacted the Hurricane Relief Fund in 1993 to help unprotected Hawaiʻi residents. The fund was never needed for another Hawaiʻi hurricane, and it was stopped in 2000 when insurance companies returned to the island.[39]

Iniki ravaged the native forest bird population across multiple islands, and doubtless hastened the extinction of the

chicken coops, some possibly used to house fighting chickens; this caused a dramatic increase in the numbers of feral chickens roaming Kauaʻi.[41]

Due to the storm's impacts, the name Iniki was retired following the 1992 season by the World Meteorological Organization, and will never again be used for a Central Pacific tropical cyclone. It was replaced in the basin's naming rotation with Iolana.[42][43]

In popular culture

The events and survivor accounts of the hurricane were featured in an episode of The Weather Channel docuseries Storm Stories titled "Iniki Jurassic",[44] the 6th episode of the GRB Entertainment docuseries Earth's Fury (also known as Anatomy of Disaster outside the United States) titled "Hurricane Force",[45] the 2008 4th episode of the Discovery Channel reality television series Destroyed in Seconds,[46] the 1996 Fox television special When Disasters Strike, and the 1999 11th episode of the reality television series World's Most Amazing Videos.[47]

The archival footage of the hurricane is shown on the 2004 film The Day After Tomorrow, in a scene that is set in New York City.

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Central Pacific Hurricane Center (1993). The 1992 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (PDF) (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 24, 2003.
  2. ^ Miles B. Lawrence (September 5, 1992). Tropical Depression Eighteen-E Discussion 1 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  3. ^ Max Mayfield (September 5, 1992). Tropical Depression Eighteen-E Discussion 2 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Natural Disaster Survey Report: Hurricane Iniki (PDF) (Report). April 1993. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e US Army Corps of Engineers (1993). "Hurricane Iniki Assessment" (PDF). US Military. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  6. ^ Reinhart, Brad; Reinhart, Amanda (March 7, 2024). "Hurricane Otis – Tropical Cyclone Report (EP182023)" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. University Park, Florida, United States: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. pp. 1–39. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  7. ^ Jakubowski, Steve; Krovvidi, Adityam; Podlaha, Adam; Bowen, Steve. "September 2013 Global Catasrophe Recap" (PDF). Aon Benfield. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Costliest U.S. Tropical Cyclones Tables Update (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. January 12, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  9. ^ Albarrán, Elizabeth (December 10, 2014). "Aseguradores pagaron 16,600 mdp por daños del huracán Odile" [Insurers Paid 16,600 MDP for Hurricane Odile Damages]. El Economista (in Spanish). Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  10. ^ Beven, Jack (January 10, 2011). Tropical Storm Agatha (PDF) (Report). Tropical Cyclone Report. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  11. ^ "KCC estimates privately insured loss for Hurricane Hilary at $600m". Reinsurance News. August 29, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  12. ^ Navarro, Myriam; Santos, Javier (November 11, 2018). "Ascienden a $10 mil millones los daños que causó 'Willa' en Nayarit" [The damages caused by 'Willa' in Nayarit amount to $10 billion]. La Jornada (in Spanish). Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  13. ^ "South Texas Floods: October 17–22, 1998" (PDF). United States Department of Commerce. 1999. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2007.
  14. ^ "Floods in Southeast Texas, October 1994" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. January 1995. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
  15. ^ "Guatemala - Disaster Statistics". Prevention Web. 2008. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  16. ^ "5 Day Toll in El Salvador, 630 Killed, Crops, Destroyed". Anchorage Daily Times. September 23, 1982. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  17. ^ "El Salvador Death Toll hits 565 as more bodies found". Ocala Star-Banner. September 22, 1982. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  18. ^ "Tropical Storm Octave 1983". National Weather Service. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  19. ^ Rotzull, Brenda (October 7, 1983). "Domestic News". United Press International.  – via Lexis Nexis (subscription required)
  20. ^
    Charles H. Fletcher III; Eric E. Grossman; Bruce M. Richmond; Ann E. Gibbs (2002). Atlas of Natural Hazards in the Hawaiian Coastal Zone
    (PDF) (Report). United States Geologic Survey. pp. 11–12.
  21. ^ a b c Unknown (1992). "Broadcast Journalism: Write to the Bite". Unknown. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  22. ^ a b c Anthony Sommer (2002). "The people of Kauai lived through a nightmare when the powerful storm struck". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Archived from the original on March 11, 2006. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  23. ^ "ドッグフードにある栄養素". www.video-hawaii.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 1997. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  24. ^ "Big Waves at Waikiki but Oahu Is Mostly Spared". The New York Times. September 13, 1992. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  25. ^
    ISBN 0-345-38122-X
    .
  26. ^ Al Kamen (September 13, 1992). "Hawaii Hurricane Devastates Kauai". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  27. ^ a b Ron Hashiro (1993). "Hurricane Iniki Rallies Amateurs". American Amateur Radio Relay League, Inc. Archived from the original on August 2, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  28. ^ Al Kamen (September 13, 1992). "Hawaii Hurricane Devastates Kauai: Iniki Blamed For 3 Deaths, Scores of Injuries". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  29. ^ "Big Island Hawaii Beaches". big-island-bigisland.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  30. ^ Brown, Daniel; Kelly, Larry (October 25, 2023). Hurricane Otis Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). Miami, Florida. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  31. ^ Kimberlain, Todd B.; Blake, Eric S.; Cangialosi, John P. (February 1, 2016). Hurricane Patricia (PDF) (Report). Tropical Cyclone Report. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  32. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1977)105<0508:EPTCO>2.0.CO;2
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  33. ^ The 1992 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (PDF) (Report). Honolulu, Hawaii: Central Pacific Hurricane Center. 1993. Retrieved November 24, 2003.
  34. ^ a b Blake, Eric S; Gibney, Ethan J; Brown, Daniel P; Mainelli, Michelle; Franklin, James L; Kimberlain, Todd B; Hammer, Gregory R (2009). Tropical Cyclones of the Eastern North Pacific Basin, 1949-2006 (PDF). Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  35. ^ Franklin, James L. (December 26, 2002). Hurricane Kenna (PDF) (Report). Tropical Cyclone Report. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  36. ^ Bucci, Lisa; Brown, Daniel (October 10, 2023). Hurricane Lidia Intermediate Advisory Number 31A (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  37. ^ J. Dexter Peach (1993). "What Hurricane Andrew Tells Us About How To Fix FEMA". United States General Accounting Office. Archived from the original on July 8, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2006.
  38. ^ Greg Pool (1993). "Iniki and the American Red Cross". Worldradio. 22 (12): 1, 18–20. Archived from the original on January 10, 2005. Retrieved December 17, 2007.
  39. ^ "State should keep hurricane fund intact for next disaster". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 2001. Archived from the original on September 22, 2005. Retrieved March 18, 2006.
  40. ^ "Hurricane Hell – Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project". kauaiforestbirds.org. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  41. ^ "Something's killing off Kauai chickens". Honolulu Advertiser. 2007. Archived from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
  42. ^ "Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Name History". Atlantic Tropical Weather Center. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  43. ^ "Tropical cyclone names". Exeter, Devon, UK: Met Office. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  44. ^ "Iniki Jurassic". Storm Stories. 2009. The Weather Channel. Retrieved May 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
  45. ^ "Hurricane Force". Anatomy of Disaster. Season 1. Episode 6. 1997. The Learning Channel. Retrieved May 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
  46. ^ Hurricane Slams Hawaii. Discovery Channel. 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
  47. ^ "Episode 11". World's Most Amazing Videos. Season 1. Episode 11. 1999. NBC. Retrieved May 21, 2021 – via YouTube.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hurricane Iniki.

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