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Civil Defense
Frequently Asked Questions
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. HST
Are
there any threats to residential areas from this eruption?
What is the difference between ‘a‘a
and pahoehoe lava?
Where can I go to see the lava flow up close?
Are there emergency plans in place?
How will we know if we are in danger?
Is there a danger of wildfires being started by
the lava?
Will the sirens be used to warn residents?
Why can’t the lava be diverted to other
areas?
If a potential threat develops to
any populated area, how much notice will residents have?
Who do I contact if I want more
information?
Are there any threats to residential areas from this eruption?
The lava
flow presently poses a threat to anyone within the Royal Gardens Subdivision and on the
coastal plain below the subdivision. The
remaining residents of Royal Gardens Subdivision have been evacuated. Because there are so many factors affecting the
direction and rate of flow, it is still unknown whether the lava will eventually reach any
other inhabited areas. The scientists at the
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are closely monitoring the eruption and communicate with
Hawai‘i County Civil Defense, so that if any potential threat to other residential
areas is developing, Civil Defense will take appropriate measures to warn any residents.
What
is the difference between ‘a‘a and pahoehoe lava?
Hawaiian
volcanoes erupt two types of lava, known by the Hawaiian terms pahoehoe and ‘a‘a.
A pahoehoe flow has a comparatively smooth or “ropy” surface. The surface of an ‘a‘a flow consists of
free chunks of angular pieces of lava. The
terms ‘a‘a and pahoehoe, which are the names used by Native Hawaiians for these
types of lava, and adopted by geologists in Hawai‘i in the 1800s, are now used
internationally by scientists.
‘A‘a
Pahoehoe
‘A‘a
can form when lava flows rapidly. Pahoehoe
typically forms when lava moves more slowly. Thus
‘a‘a lava flows are associated with high discharge rates and steep slopes while
pahoehoe flows are associated with lower discharge rates and gentle slopes.
Lava from
the present eruption leaves the fissure in a liquid form and becomes an ‘a‘a
flow at some distance from the source. Because
open channels and ‘a‘a flows lose heat rapidly, they do not move far before
stalling. As long as the flow remains
‘a‘a and the eruption rate does not increase, it should not advance far enough
from its source to reach inhabited areas. For
the lava to advance far enough to pose a potential threat, it must develop a tube system
and advance as pahoehoe.
Where can I go to see
the lava flow up close?
The current
lava flow has reached the ocean, and is crossing land and entering the water at an area
near Kalapana that is relatively accessible. A
safe viewing program for the public has been developed by County, State and Federal
agencies, and coordinated by Hawai‘i
The viewing
site is located at the end of Highway 130. From
the parking area, there is a walk of approximately one quarter to one mile across lava to
the site. For safety, you are asked to dress
appropriately with long pants, closed-toe shoes, hat and sun screen. It can be very hot and sunny, so please bring
water, and flashlights if you will be at the site after dark. You should also be prepared for the possibility of
rain. There are a limited number of portable
toilets available near the parking area, so be prepared.
People are
asked to stay on the trails as marked and obey any requests by the interpreters that may
be issued for their safety.
Are there emergency plans in place?
Emergency
plans for volcanic eruptions have been in place since 1977.
These are basic plans that identify the factors that must be addressed in eruptions
and the roles of responding agencies. Due to
the varied nature of volcanic eruptions, plans are generic and flexible so they can be
adapted to each incident. Briefings have
already been held with responding agencies to review their areas of responsibility.
How will we know if we
are in danger?
This is a
very good question because calls are coming from people who are concerned that they will
not be notified ahead of time or not be notified because of where they live. The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the
As
necessary, the Civil Defense organization will establish liaisons with community
organizations. These liaisons in communities
will be a valuable resource for individuals to receive information close to home. Community associations will also be a very
convenient point of contact for officials as well as for residents.
Judgment on
when notification of threat is necessary will be done on a very conservative basis, and
all residents are assured that notification will be given on potential threats as far in
advance as possible. Notification for
evacuations will be made, obviously, some time after potential threat notification is
given. This system is to ensure that the
maximum amount of time possible is given to affected people for their safety.
Is there a danger of
wildfires being started by the lava?
Fires are
started when lava flows advance through vegetation. The terrain the flow is presently
passing over is mostly bare lava with no threat of fire.
However, there are kipukas of vegetation. Due
to their isolated location, though, any fires will probably be very localized. The Hawai‘i
Will the sirens be
used to warn residents?
The purpose
of the siren system is to alert people to tune into their local radio stations. Generally speaking, it is reserved for those times
when immediate attention is needed. It should
be noted that in all notifications for any kind of emergency, the sirens are only a small
part of the entire warning system. This must
be so as siren coverage areas for the
In the event
of a volcanic eruption threat, we do not anticipate any circumstances that would call for
the use of the sirens. In all likelihood, as
in past eruptions, danger areas will have already been well notified by all resources
available. The most important element of
getting residents alerted to any threat is one of continuous information flow whenever a
potential threat develops. Outside of an
unexpected fissure eruption with little notice, or a very unlikely pyroclastic (explosive
type) eruption, information will be given on a timely basis to residents.
Why can’t the lava be diverted to
other areas?
Many studies
have been done throughout the world on the possibility of diverting lava from identified
priority areas. It is emphasized that this is
diversion from one area to another, as lava must go somewhere. The use of water, dikes, and explosives have all
been discussed, experimented with, or tried. It
is important to know that outside of very little or no success shown by efforts in other
parts of the world, in Hawai‘i there is a cultural element that must be considered
and respected.
This is not
to say that diversion is not being studied here. Hundreds
of thousands of dollars have been expended in reviewing ideas for diversion. At this point, no proposals have proven acceptable
for Hawai‘i.
If a potential threat
develops to any populated area, how much notice will residents have?
If
conditions develop that may pose a potential threat to residential areas, all affected
areas will be given notice of the potential threat. Any
threatening situation will not develop overnight, and keeping affected residents informed
will be top priority.
Who do I contact if I
want more information?
USGS
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory – (808) 967-7328
Hawai‘i
County Civil Defense Agency – (808) 935-0031
Kalapana
Lava Viewing Hotline – (808) 961-8093
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