Hawaii Checks For Infrastructure Damage

Officials Check Bridges, Roads After 6.6 Quake Causes Blackouts And Landslides

(CBS/AP)  Officials began inspecting bridges and roads across Hawaii early Monday following the strongest earthquake to rattle the islands in more than two decades, a 6.7-magnitude quake that caused blackouts and landslides but no reported fatalities.

At least one stretch of road leading to a bridge near the earthquake's epicenter on the Big Island collapsed, Civil Defense Agency spokesman Dave Curtis said Monday.

Several other roads on the Big Island were closed by mudslides, debris and boulders, but most were still passable, he said. The power was back on across most of the islands Monday morning.

"The Big Island is practically all up. Maui is all up. Kauai didn't sustain any damage as far as we can tell; their power has always been on," Rod Haraga of the Hawaii Department of Transportation said on CBS News' The Early Show. "The big problem is in Oahu, where we have 800,000 population." The power grid there has only been restored 50 percent, he said.

About a dozen schools were closed for inspection, but no major injuries or deaths had been reported.

"If you're going to have an earthquake, you couldn't have had it at a better time — early in the morning when people aren't even out of their homes yet," Curtis said.

"I think people, under the circumstances, have remained very calm," he said.

While airports remain functioning, flights have been canceled, leaving passengers stranded, reports Sabrina Hall of CBS affiliate KGMB. Some hospitals and hotels had to be evacuated due to structural damage.

The quake hit at 7:07 a.m. Sunday, 10 miles north-northwest of Kailua-Kona, on the west coast of Hawaii Island, known as the Big Island, said Don Blakeman of the National Earthquake Information Center, part of the U.S. Geological Survey.

A government computer simulation estimated as many as 170 bridges could have been damaged by the quake, said Bob Fenton, Federal Emergency Management Agency director of response for the region.

Gov. Linda Lingle, who was in a hotel near the epicenter, issued a disaster declaration for the state, and the state Civil Defense had several reports of minor injuries as aftershocks continued to shake the island chain.

"We were rocking and rolling," said Anne LaVasseur, who was on the second floor of a two-story, wood-framed house on the east side of the Big Island when the temblor struck. "I was pretty scared. We were swaying back and forth, like King Kong's pushing your house back and forth."

The shaking broke water pipes at ResortQuest Kona By The Sea, turning the front of the building into a dramatic waterfall starting at the fourth floor, said Kenneth Piper, who runs the front desk.

"You could almost see the cars bouncing up and down in the parking garage," Piper said.

The earthquake was followed by several strong aftershocks on Sunday, including one measuring a magnitude of 5.8, the USGS said. Forecasters said there was no danger of a tsunami, though choppier-than-normal waves were predicted. The quake struck during heavy rain, though, adding a risk of mudslides.

[pakaal]

Yeah, it was a good jolt, but we (on O'ahu) fared pretty well. I think the most damage done was to our sense of complacency. I had 5 friends calling me for updates because I was the only one with a battery-powered radio!

For my part, the biggest realization I had was that the CDC needs to rethink their connection to KSSK, the only radio on air after the power failed. For half an hour after the jolts I waited for any info, while a prerecorded discussion on state constitutional amendments played. I think we need something a little more professionally coordinated in the future. It was frustrating not knowing where the earthquake started, the size, chance of tsunami, etc. For half an hour, nothing....

[adventurepa]

"The Big Question-- does this 6.6 quake indicate a serious and continuing fault movement, or (and/or) possible renewed volcanic activity? Hawaiians owe their every island to geologic upheaval."

Interesting question.
Love to see the underwater pictures to see how the fault slipped.
Sounds like sideways slippage.(is that a word?)
If it was upward or downward slippage it would have a better chance to create tsunami waves. Like the pictures show of the big one last year.
The ground lifted by 40 feet or better.

I would bet the magma will preasure it's way out in a few months or fill the new voids left by the movement.
Can't wait for the pictures to confirm if they are not too deep off the coast..
The 7 am coincidence is just that in my opinion.
Both are unrealated events.
Thankfully we have an understanding of plate tectonics. Otherwise the earth quake might be mistaken for gods wrath.
Great opportunity scientist's to get ground open fault pictures of the earth's crack. lol

[alphaa10-2009]

1. The Big Question-- does this 6.6 quake indicate a serious and continuing fault movement, or (and/or) possible renewed volcanic activity? Hawaiians owe their every island to geologic upheaval.

2. On Hawaiian upheaval of a different sort, back in 1893, resident American businessmen took the islands from the natives by hook and crook (mostly crook). A small group of business investors, Sanford B. Dole principal-without-principle among them, led an armed insurrection against the Hawaiian royalty.

To protect the "lives and property" of these ugly Americans, the US Navy (which salivated after the islands as a strategic coaling station), landed soldiers to "de-install" the lawful authorities. Not long after that, Dole prospered by an order of magnitude, declared Hawaii a "republic" and made himself president.

By coincidence, the Navy suddenly had a new coaling station, and new naval base in planning. This shameful history is thought to be the first (excluding the brazen threats made by Dewey to Japan in 1853-54) of many "preemptive" invasions involving US armed forces.

Something tells me Sunday, 7:00am local, is somehow very unlucky in the islands, based upon a broad sample of two events-- December 7, 1941 and today.

[nynative1340]

I appologize. Sarcasm is a bad habit I acquired after posting to so many of the 'political' stories.

I too hope there aren't any serious injuries or deaths resulting from the quake.

[peaceforusa]

To peterbaldwin and nynative your posts were very funny.. lol ;-)

But I don't think lganso was laughing this morning. I know I am glad to hear you are ok. Hopefully no one was injured or worse.

[staff2--2008]

yikes, I lived in SF most of my life...went through many earthquakes...moved here to Hilo on the big island last year...this morning started out as a gentle rocking but then it really got going...my house...built on stilts overlooking the wailuku river was visibly going from side to side...I had trouble keeping my balance getting down the steps from the second floor...I ran out thinking that the glu lam beams were going to fall and the house was going to slide into the river...never got that feeling before in SF...

[nynative1340]

Yeah, you're right. We can't blame it on Bush because he probably doesn't know where the Big Island is.

[peterbaldwin-2009]

This is Clinton's fault. He vetoed needed funding for Earthquake Prevention Technology (EPT) tied to the Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars).