As floodwaters begin to recede on Oahu, residents are returning home to assess the damage and, in many cases, what’s been lost. Officials lifted evacuation orders across parts of the island’s North Shore, including Waialua and Hale’iwa, after fears over the aging Wahiawa Dam eased and water levels dropped. But the return has revealed the storm’s full impact: homes pushed off foundations, streets still partially submerged, and families sifting through mud-soaked belongings in search of anything salvageable. In communities like Laie, the destruction has been especially severe. Local officials estimate roughly 100 homes were damaged overnight as floodwaters surged through neighborhoods, filling garages and living spaces with debris. Residents described water rising to waist level in just hours — overwhelming properties that had never flooded before and leaving behind a thick layer of mud and debris. Rescue efforts during the storm underscored the scale of the crisis. More than 230 people were pulled from dangerous conditions statewide, while crews conducted dramatic rooftop evacuations at the height of the flooding. The United States Coast Guard, working …