A 2.3-megawatt North Kohala wind farm will remain shut down until late next week while workers try to bypass a high-tech "shock absorber" that was severely damaged Monday in a fire believed to have been caused by Sunday's earthquakes.
A 2.3-megawatt North Kohala wind farm will remain shut down until late next week while workers try to bypass a high-tech "shock absorber" that was severely damaged Monday in a fire believed to have been caused by Sunday's earthquakes.
A 2.3-megawatt North Kohala wind farm will remain shut down until late next week while workers try to bypass a high-tech "shock absorber" that was severely damaged Monday in a fire believed to have been caused by Sunday's earthquakes.
New tallies arrived yesterday, with the damage estimate for four Big Island hospitals raised to at least $10 million. Kona Community Hospital and Hale Ho'ola Hamakua, a long-term care facility, suffered major damage. Kohala Hospital and Ka'u Hospital had minor damage.
Civil Defense officials now estimate the cost of the quakes at about $100 million. That is sure to increase, since it does not include the more than 1,130 homes on the Big Island that suffered some damage and the 23 others that have been …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]A 2.3-megawatt North Kohala wind farm will remain shut down until late next week while workers try to bypass a high-tech "shock absorber" that was severely damaged Monday in a fire believed to have been caused by Sunday's earthquakes.
New tallies arrived yesterday, with the damage estimate for four Big Island hospitals raised to at least $10 million. Kona Community Hospital and Hale Ho'ola Hamakua, a long-term care facility, suffered major damage. Kohala Hospital and Ka'u Hospital had minor damage.
Civil Defense officials now estimate the cost of the quakes at about $100 million. That is sure to increase, since it does not include the more than 1,130 homes on the Big Island that suffered some damage and the 23 others that have been condemned.
Forty-eight people suffered minor injuries and 82 people — mostly hospital patients — had to be evacuated, according to the latest figures from Big Island Civil Defense.
In the aftermath of Sunday's 6.7 and 6.0 earthquakes, 29 patients were taken from Kona Community Hospital to the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa's ballroom, where they remain, hospital spokeswoman Emily Mendez-Bryant said. Six other patients were taken to Hilo Hospital, where they remain, Mendez-Bryant said.
Kona Community Hospital lost ceiling tiles and suffered cracked walls but is structurally sound, Mendez-Bryant said. Hospital officials estimate the cost of repairs, overtime, outside services and other costs at $5 million.
Although 35 patients were evacuated, the hospital continues to operate its emergency room, social services department, pharmacy, behavioral health, intensive care, laboratory, rehabilitation and other services.
Hale Ho'ola Hamakua had $4.5 million worth of damage when pipes broke and the hospital was flooded. Some 49 people were evacuated nearby to a former clinic that had been renovated into classrooms.
Ka'u Hospital will need $500,000 worth of repairs, Civil Defense officials said. The temblors opened a crack between near the hospital's clinic and its dayroom, which widened from a 4.0-magnitude aftershock.
Civil Defense officials had no estimate for Kohala Hospital, which initially reported ceiling tile damage.
State transportation officials said repair crews are fixing fuel lines at Kawaihae Harbor's Pier 2A to try to have it opened for cargo by tomorrow.
Kawaihae Harbor is the Big Island's busiest cargo port. Pier 2B has been open since Tuesday afternoon after cracks appeared during the earthquakes.
Workers paved over the cracks and "they didn't seem to find any structural damage," said Scott Ishikawa, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
"It's going to be a little tight having Matson and Young Brothers (shipping companies) working the same site, but all the parties understand the situation," Ishikawa said.
Divers continue to check Pier 1 for structural damage and crews may have to remove the top surface of the pier "just to see if there's any structural damage underneath," Ishikawa said.
Pier 1 primarily handles cattle and cement loads.
Hawai'i Electric Light Co. President Warren Lee has said he believes the Helco grid suffered $3 million to $5 million in damage from the earthquakes, with perhaps half that amount attributed to the Lalamilo wind farm fire in North Kohala on Monday.
The electronic shock absorber was installed in March to smooth out the surges and ebbs in power generated from the windmills at the facility. Electrical components of the shock absorber caught fire Monday morning in an incident believed to be related to the earthquakes.
Jay Ignacio, distribution department manager for HELCO, said the manufacturer is coming to the Big Island to inspect the equipment. "I don't know for sure if they can salvage anything, but the fire was pretty serious," Ignacio said.
The damage went beyond infrastructure.
The American Red Cross, Hawai'i State Chapter is helping at least 13 families whose Big Island homes were destroyed or suffered major damage.
"And the number is increasing as we go," said Maria Lutz, the American Red Cross' director of disaster services in Hawai'i.
Red Cross officials said they are receiving requests for information about checking for structural damage, checking household items, making repairs, recovering emotionally and for tips for dealing with their insurance companies.
Tips for coping can be found on the Web site for the American Red Cross at www.hawaiiredcross.org.
Big Island Civil Defense officials have condemned, or "red-tagged," 21 homes but still have no dollar estimate of the overall cost.
Six of the uninhabitable homes are in Waikaloa, five in Waimea and five in Hamakua, two in Kapa'au, and three in North Kona.
Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com and Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.