HILO — Hurricane Lala caused catastrophic flooding in the Ka‘u District on Hawaii Island in August, sending floodwaters and debris through the Naalehu Cemetery and displacing an estimated 175 burial plots. More than 10 feet of debris covered portions of the cemetery, complicating efforts to determine which burials remained intact and which were displaced.

Read more Enrique Hernandez belts tiebreaking HR as Dodgers knock off Giants

County officials have since been working with archaeologists, the National Guard, Civil Defense and the Department of Public Works on a slow, methodical recovery and identification effort.

Darryl Oliveira, acting administrator for the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency, said crews continue to work on both the recovery and identification of what officials are calling “elements” — evidence of human remains — from burials that were displaced in the flooding.

He said crews are also trying to determine which burials remain intact because a significant portion of the cemetery is covered by more than 10 feet of debris. Establishing which graves are intact will help officials determine which burials were displaced and narrow down which families may need to be contacted about recovered elements.

Oliveira said officials are narrowing down the number of potential burials that could require DNA testing. The cemetery has more than 1,000 plots, he said, making it impractical to test every person associated with the cemetery.

“So that’s what’s been going on: both the collection and recovery of elements, as well as the identification of burials that are still intact,” Oliveira said.

Archaeological oversight remains in place as Public Works crews remove debris from Kaalaiki Road, which provides access to drainage areas above the cemetery and will eventually allow heavy equipment to be brought in to more effectively assess and remove debris from the cemetery.

The work has been slow and methodical, Oliveira said, because archaeologists and monitors are watching the excavation to ensure potentially significant items are not lost as debris is removed. Material collected during the work is being transported to a separate collection site for further assessment and sifting.

Recovered material is being stored in a refrigerated environment at the Naalehu Police Station, where the team is cataloging and taking inventory of the items. Debris removed from the area is being staged at a secure location managed by Public Works for further evaluation and sifting.

Officials are also collecting family information when items such as headstones are identified. Oliveira said the county has been maintaining communication with families through community meetings, emails from the mayor’s office and an online portal.

Read more Tigers walk off Pirates to win Justin Verlander’s farewell start

A community meeting scheduled for this week was canceled because of the weather, but officials hope to meet with families again to provide updates on findings and next steps.

Oliveira said the current estimate is about 175 burial plots impacted by the flooding, although officials are working to verify that number.

The long-term question is what happens to the cemetery if officials determine it remains vulnerable to future flooding.

“That is going to be a coordinated conversation because it’s not just with the families,” Oliveira said. “Parks and Rec is the county agency that manages and basically owns the cemetery.”

The county is seeking information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine the cemetery’s future flood risk. Based on that assessment, Oliveira said the county could consider a range of options, including to continue operating the cemetery as it is, modifying its operations, limiting future burials or potentially relocating the cemetery.

“There’s so many conversations that need to take place, but without information as to what is the threat or risk for the cemetery, it’s hard to have those conversations,” Oliveira said.

Oliveira said he was notified Friday that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency administrator had approved the county’s request for assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

County officials have already shared maps and other data with the Corps in preparation for its involvement.

Read more NCAA roundup: Jadan Baugh scores 3 TDs as No. 21 Florida knocks off No. 4 Ole Miss