What this is
This flood rescue story shows how Houston neighbors can help each other during emergencies - and how you can get ready to help too.
When Hawaii faced its worst flooding in 20 years, community members showed what real neighbors can do. In the Mokuleia neighborhood on Oahu, a group of local men came together to rescue a 98-year-old woman from her flooding home using a front-loading tractor.
Mark Talaei was walking through the flooded neighborhood looking for people who needed help. He found a family trying to evacuate their 98-year-old neighbor from her home as brown muddy water rose around her porch. The flooding reached up to people's knees in many areas.
First responders and local volunteers in wetsuits tried to carry the woman to safety. But the community had a better idea. A group of neighbors arrived with a front-loading tractor, with four men riding in the bucket. They carefully helped the woman, still in her wheelchair, into the tractor bucket with her legs wrapped in a trash bag to stay dry.
Read full text
The rescue video has inspired thousands of people online. "This is what happens when people move with heart," one viewer wrote. The woman's granddaughter thanked the community for coming together during the crisis. The flooding has caused over $1 billion in damages across Hawaii, but stories like this show how we support each other when disaster strikes.
Key details
- Woman's age: 98 years old
- Flood timing: Worst in 20 years
- Damage estimate: Over $1 billion
- Location: Mokuleia, Oahu
About Good Good Good
Good Good Good is a media company sharing good news and actionable ways to make a difference. They publish stories about people, organizations, and ideas making the world better.
Visit website →Where it reaches
This and 7 more nearby in All of Us — tap a dot to open it.
Why it matters
This is part of All of Us — culture, belonging, and what connects us.
How to dig in
- 1Start with the snapshot above to know what this is in a glance.
- 2Read through to understand how it connects to the bigger picture.
- 3Read more using the button above.
Connections
1 connection — tap a node to open it.
By the numbers
Connections1
Nearby in All of Us7
Led byGood Good Good
Counted from the Community Exchange connection graph.