A Hawaii man survived a harrowing eight-hour ordeal after being swept away by floodwaters during Hurricane Lowell, which also destroyed his home. Trent Parke, 47, a tattoo artist from Wainiha on Kauai's north shore, described his experience of being stranded in rising water after the storm surge overwhelmed his property on September 7.
Parke had taken precautions in anticipation of the hurricane, moving valuables and shutting down his off-grid power system. Despite not living directly on the oceanfront, his home borders the Wainiha River, which rapidly swelled.
Around 7:30 p.m., Parke attempted to evacuate his home but found the river had already surged significantly. He was forced to swim back to his house, climbing onto its deck, which was elevated about eight feet. As the water continued to rise, he ascended to the roof of the deck, approximately 16 feet above ground.
The situation escalated as large trees and debris began floating downstream, striking Parke's home and causing parts of it to break away. At one point, Parke described seeing his own art studio detach from the main structure. He managed to grab onto a hau bush plant for support, but as trees impacted the house, he was forced back into the intense water.
After hitting his head and back on a log, Parke resurfaced and secured himself to another branch, determined to survive. He remained in this precarious position until 4 a.m., battling hypothermia. Eventually, he encountered four other individuals who had also escaped the floodwaters.
Parke eventually located his truck and his home, which had been washed approximately 30 to 50 yards downstream and landed on another property. He is currently staying with neighbors as he deals with the loss of his home and belongings. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist him.
