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When a big red blob heading towards Tahiti made itself apparent in the forecast, a bunch of big wave surfers pulled the trigger and booked flights. Teahupo’o locals waxed up, stretched out, and tried to rest up in preparation. And while the swell certainly did make a mark (one wave broke Tom Lowe’s ribs and punctured his lung), a flash flood inundated the idyllic island paradise, flooding homes and sweeping vehicles into the Teahupo’o lagoon.
Now, surfers like John John Florence are asking the surf community for help. “Sending my love and hoping the best for everyone at Teahupo’o,” Florence wrote. “It’s one my favorite places in the world and very special to the surfing community. They had some serious flash flooding and there is a lot of damage.”
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Torrential rains aren’t all that uncommon in other areas of Tahiti. The average annual rainfall there is 74.6 inches, so a flash flood like the one that happened requires a lot of rain. According to reports, the flooding happened so quickly it caught most of the residents flat-footed. Cars and appliances washed down the river and the power to most of the region was knocked out. Although there were a handful of injuries, thankfully no one died. Rescue teams are now working tirelessly in the area. While flooding does happen in other areas of Tahiti, Teahupo’o is not prone to it.
The cleanup will be a long one, and with more rain in the forecast, locals are bracing themselves for another round. If you’d like to help the Teahupo’o community, you can donate here.
