Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. issued a county disaster declaration yesterday after last week's heavy rain caused flash flooding in the Hanalei and Kawaihau areas.

The flooding resulted in “;widespread damage to public and private property,”; according to a county news release. “;The ongoing effects of this disaster have caused economic loss and hardships, particularly to the farmers in Hanalei Valley.”;

County spokeswoman Mary Daubert said the county is still working on a preliminary damage estimate.

More than 17 inches of rain fell on Hanalei on Friday and Saturday after the ground was already saturated from a week of rain that started Nov. 9.

Three homes were flooded in Hanalei and 17 people, including several farm workers, were evacuated by boat Saturday. Several roads and bridges were also closed by flooding.