Honiara City Mayor Andrew Mua directs the flood response from the Council Chamber window moments before pausing to chair a meeting of the municipality's Disaster Committee. (Photo: Tejas Patnaik/UNISDR)

By Andy McElroy

HONIARA, Solomon Islands, 2 March 2018 – Less than 24 hours after Honiara launched a major review of its disaster resilience planning, heavy rain and flash floods provided an immediate test of the city’s preparedness.

Honiara Mayor Andrew Leonard Mua OBE activated the Emergency Operations Centre as water cascaded down from the highlands above the city, flooding storm water drains, creeks and several roads.

With floodwaters rising, the Mayor told the City’s Disaster Committee – comprising heads of departments, the National Disaster Management Office and police – of the need for quick and informed action.

“It is imperative that we quickly understand the extent of the floods and the areas most affected so that we know what needs to be done and where,” the Mayor said.

Sitting in the council chamber, under the Honiara City crest and accompanying motto ‘To lead is to serve’, the Mayor dispatched rapid assessment teams with a brief to report back in six hours.

As a priority, the teams were told to identify clinics that were open and accessible as well as schools that could operate as evacuation centres in the event the situation deteorated.

The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Company (SIBC) reported widespread disruption. Many businesses were unable to open because staff could not get to work. Similarly schools were badly hit as teachers and students were unable to get to their class.

On a positive note, SIBC also told of several spontaneous acts of community self-help: At major junctions, in the absence of traffic police who were responding elsewhere, groups of young people stood knee-high in water directing traffic.

The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service said that 171mm of rain fell in a five and a half hour period in the morning. By late afternoon, as the deluge stopped, the situation stabilized and floodwaters began to recede.