An elderly couple in Hawaii watched their dream home disappear into a river after a powerful storm triggered devastating floods.
Tom and Carrie Bashaw, both in their eighties, lost the Maui home they built with their life savings in less than six years.
The destruction came after a Kona storm brought record breaking rainfall across the islands.
The couple said they had never seen anything like it before.
Floodwaters Destroy Home in Minutes
The Bashaws built their home in Wailuku, overlooking Iao Stream, which is usually calm or nearly dry.
The house stood about 75 feet from the stream and 45 feet above it, which made them feel safe from flooding.
But on Saturday, heavy rain caused the stream to swell into a fast moving river.
The rushing water eroded the land beneath the house, causing large sections of it to collapse and fall into the river.
More details about extreme weather risks can be found through the National Weather Service flood safety page.
Couple Forced to Flee as Land Gave Way
The couple began to worry on Friday when they saw trees along the stream being knocked over by rising water.
By that evening, the ground near their home started to collapse.
They quickly packed their belongings and left the house around 9 p.m.
They spent the night in a barn on their property with their two cats.
When they returned the next morning, much of the home was already gone.
“The Whole Backside Was Gone”
Tom Bashaw described the moment they saw the damage.
“The whole backside of the house was in the river, gone,” he said in an interview with local media.
Bedrooms, food, and personal belongings were swept away by the floodwaters.
Later that day, the garage also collapsed into the river while the couple watched.
No Insurance, Life Savings Lost
The Bashaws said they did not have flood insurance because their home was not in a designated flood zone.
They believed the elevation and distance from the stream made the property safe.
Now, they are left with very little after losing years of work and investment.
The couple is currently staying in a storage container on their property.
Information about flood insurance and risk zones is available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Storm Breaks Records Across Hawaii
The Kona storm brought as much as 44 inches of rain to parts of Maui.
The rainfall broke a 72 year record and caused widespread damage across the state.
At one point, about 100,000 people lost power due to the storm.
Thousands of customers were still without electricity days later.
Community Steps In to Help
A fundraiser set up by the couple’s family has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help them recover.
The funds will go toward temporary housing, essential supplies, and cleanup efforts.
Despite the loss, Tom Bashaw expressed gratitude that they survived.
“Mother Nature wins,” he said. “She didn’t take us. She just took the house. We’re grateful for that.”
The story highlights the growing risks of extreme weather and how quickly lives can change in the face of natural disasters.