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Almost $50,000 has been raised in less than half a day for a family whose home was destroyed by flooding in Hawaii.
Torrential rain swamped the property with water on Monday amid widespread flooding across the Hawaiian island of Maui. Mark Alexander, who lives in the home with wife Dixie Alexander and their family, had to leave the property for a community center after the water arrived and quickly got deeper.
He told local news station KITV: "I didn't even know what to do. Before I know it, the water is to my knees, to my waist."
By the time the family evacuated their home, the water had reached the roof of the house, their son Shawn Alexander said.
The family returned to the property on Tuesday to find extensive damage. Nearly all of the 100 chickens they owned were lost to the flooding.
Items including their truck, an ATV, refrigerator and freezers, furniture, and clothing were damaged, according to a GoFundMe page set up on their behalf. The house has also suffered structural damage.
KHONnews reporter Lauren Day shared a video of the Alexander's home on Twitter.
MAUI FLOODING: A look at the family’s property. This isn’t the only home that was completely destroyed. Everything is covered in mud. @KHONnews pic.twitter.com/3CeTe6B2Xa
— Lauren Day (@LaurenDayNews) March 9, 2021
When Mark Alexander phoned his insurance company, he was told he was covered by homeowners and hurricane insurance but not flood insurance. He told KITV: "I was speechless, I didn't even know what to say." The family predicts losses could come to at least $100,000.
Mark Alexander's sibling set up a fundraising page to help the family get back on their feet, with the aim of raising $75,000. It reads: "My brother is one of the most humble, giving people around.
"He is the first to help anyone in need, and I am devastated for him to have lost what he has worked so hard for all his life."
Elena Alexander Nishizaki, who set up the fundraiser, told Newsweek: "On behalf of the Alexander Ohana words can't begin to describe how thankful we are and how much love we feel from everyone. The support is amazing! Whether it is dropping off food, clothes, people volunteering with the clean up, and monetary donations... we are just completely overwhelmed with the support.
"We would like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for the constant love and support."
The family are one of many to have been affected by the severe flooding on Monday, which forced widespread evacuations and destroyed or badly damaged at least six homes, according to Maui County.
On Tuesday, Hawaii governor David Ige declared a state of emergency. A statement from his office said there were concerns about a possible dam failure. On Monday the owners of the Kaupakalua Dam on Maui reported the spillway was running very high and that water had been spilling over. People below the dam, which can hold 68 million gallons of water, were evacuated.
Shan Tsutsui, COO at Maui farming company Mahi Pono, said in a statement according to The New York Times: "While the levels exceeded peak capacity and caused over-topping of the dam yesterday afternoon, over-topping ceased in the early evening and has not reoccurred."
On Tuesday, the National Weather Service extended a flash flood warning through to 6 a.m. Wednesday. Maui County said evacuation orders were in effect for residents near or downstream the Kaupakalua Dam.
This article was updated to include a quote from Elena Alexander Nishizaki.
