1431 Critical Dam Failure - Mass Evacuations in Multiple States - National Guard Deployed
EN English (FR IT PT SP)
20 Mar 2026
Mass evacuations are underway in multiple states due to dam failures and severe flooding. Hawaii is particularly hard hit, with the Waha Dam at risk of collapse, prompting evacuation orders for downstream areas. The National Guard has been deployed to assist with evacuations and search and rescue efforts.
A fire in Pinrose, Colorado, has led to a 21-mile road closure and a two-mile evacuation order. Multiple fires are currently active in Colorado, with a red flag warning issued for the weekend due to heavy winds. The situation is exacerbated by the early onset of fire season and the spread of fires across the country, including in Arizona and California.
KeyPoints
- Evacuation Order: Mass evacuations are ordered in multiple states due to dam failures and emergency situations.
- Hawaii Dam Failure: A dam failure/levy failure is in progress or expected at the Waha Dam in Hawaii, leading to evacuation orders for downstream areas.
- Emergency Response: The governor of Hawaii has issued an evacuation order and deployed the National Guard to assist with the situation.
- Severe Storm Impact: Heavy rains and flooding in Aahu, leading to evacuations and road closures.
- Emergency Response: Military reserves mobilised, Coast Guard search and rescue deployed, and updates provided regularly.
- Safety Precautions: Public advised to be cautious due to saturated grounds and potential for increased flooding, especially during the second phase of the storm.
- Hawaii Flooding Impact: Roads are flooded, trapping people with limited escape routes due to the island’s geography.
- Flooding Causes: Continuous heavy rain, runoff from mountains, dam and levee failures, and saturated ground contribute to the flooding.
- Current Situation: Hawaii is experiencing severe flooding, comparable to a hurricane, with significant rainfall and limited wind damage.
- Dam Failure Risk: Severe flood damage poses a risk of dam failure, potentially leading to breaches, overflows, or structural damage.
- Evacuation in Hawaii: Over 4,000 people in the northern part of Hawaii’s Aahu Island are urged to evacuate due to severe rains and flooding.
- Colorado Wildfire Evacuation: Evacuation orders are issued in Fremont County, Colorado due to wildfires, with State Highway 115 closed for 21 miles.
- Evacuation Order: A two-mile evacuation order has been issued around County Road F45 and State Highway 115.
- Pre-evacuation Notice: A three-mile pre-evacuation notice has been issued for the surrounding area.
- Evacuation Location: Residents, pets, and livestock can evacuate to Pathfinder Park.
- Colorado Wildfires: Multiple wildfires are burning in southern Colorado, exacerbated by strong winds and red flag warnings.
- I-5 Closure in Washington: A massive landslide has closed northbound I-5 south of Bellingham, Washington, blocking all lanes and causing significant congestion.
- Early Fire Season: An unusually high number of wildfires are burning in the western US as early as March 20th, well before the typical start of fire season in May.
- Early Fire Season: Unusually early fire season with numerous new fires appearing in March, two months before the typical start.
- Geographic Distribution: Concentration of new fires in Colorado and New Mexico, with most currently under a few thousand acres.
- Resource Allocation Challenges: Numerous fires can overwhelm firefighting resources, requiring officials to prioritise and potentially leading to faster spread of less-attended fires.
- Unexplained Fires: The speaker is puzzled by the sudden appearance of wildfires in various locations, including Arizona and California, with no apparent cause like lightning or downed power lines.
- Clover Fire Details: A new fire, the Clover fire, has emerged in the Cookanino National Forest, Arizona, adding to the speaker’s concern about the increasing frequency of such incidents.
- Stony Fire Potential: The Stony Fire in California near San Diego has the potential to spread rapidly, covering up to 500 acres due to windy and dry conditions, making it challenging to control.