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+--- Thread: post-tephra catchment care (/showthread.php?tid=23815)
RE: post-tephra catchment care - ironyak - 02-04-2026
Here's an archive link for those interested in the whole article. Burnett didn't suggest it, just uncritically passed along the suggestion from someone else. Here's the relevant paragraphs after talking about the Pahoa pool being shut down until further notice.
"The debris clearing also is a major undertaking for residents as well as facilities.
It took us two days to clean everything. It’s not just us, it’s everyone,” said Kai Robinson. “So many people here in Volcano are older, retired people and a lot of single people who can’t get up on roofs themselves, and a lot of people can’t afford to hire someone to do it. That is, if you can find someone to hire, because everyone’s in the same boat. My husband was able to get up on the lower section.
“Fortunately for us, we had some younger friends who could get up on the higher section of the roof with a backpack blower. And that’s what you needed, a blower, rather than a broom. Something like a leaf-blower.”
Robinson, like others who are experienced at living near a volcano, disconnect the roof water collector from the catchment tank itself."
RE: post-tephra catchment care - HereOnThePrimalEdge - 02-04-2026
don't think there is a more inappropriate method of removal than a leaf blower.
Yeah, don’t do that.
Pros: It’s fast
Cons: Everything else
RE: post-tephra catchment care - HiloJulie - 02-04-2026
One thing to keep in mind is that the inhalation of this type of volcanic debris, Pele's hair as well as more or less any silica based materials may take years - even decades to manifest itself into some type of lung issue.
After the asbestos heyday was finally ended in the 1970's, studies have shown that children developed asbestosis 30 - 40 years later from inhaling the dust from the "leg rides" and helpful shoe untying as toddlers when Daddy came home from work covered in the stuff as well as housewives simply washing Dad's work clothes.
Lung x-rays used to detect silica-induced lung disease also requires a "B-reader" who is a physician certified by NIOSH to classify chest X-rays for any possible issues. Just having a standard lung x-ray may not uncover any possible issues.
But yeah, using a leaf blower, even if one wears a mask, not a good idea.
RE: post-tephra catchment care - Durian Fiend - 02-04-2026
With the bit O drizzle we got yesterday (measuring a measly .04 at my place), I noticed that the water coming out of my disconnected water tank downspout was nice and clean. This was from our main house roof that I had hosed off a few days ago.
In contrast, the water coming off our small, two story guest house roof had black crud in it. I'm not getting up on that roof as it'd be a potential 20 ft. fall. It's amazing to me that someone in Volcano fell 20 ft. and only suffered a broken wrist.
RE: post-tephra catchment care - HereOnThePrimalEdge - 02-04-2026
I have a couple of versions of this water blaster:
https://a.co/d/0hBUdMvr
They will spray a tight stream of water 20-30 feet. Usually far enough to use from the ground or from a ladder fitted with a wide U shaped stabilizer at the top, so the ladder can’t slide left or right.
You can also search for “jet nozzle.”
RE: post-tephra catchment care - randomq - 02-06-2026
My desk is on a lanai near a screen, and I've been noticing abrasive "dust" under my mouse lately. That stuff is definitely still out there blowing around. Hopefully medical technology will have advanced enough to save all of our lungs by the time the effects become apparent!
RE: post-tephra catchment care - HiloJulie - 02-06-2026
Well, kind of "good news, bad news" coming our way this weekend:
https://bigislandnow.com/2026/02/05/heavy-rain-and-strong-trade-winds-expected-this-weekend-as-more-active-weather-develops/
"Heavy rain and strong trade winds expected this weekend as more active weather develops"
Let's hope the rain comes first!
RE: post-tephra catchment care - Durian Fiend - 02-06-2026
I think we are always breathing in some rock dust here in Puna, perhaps a bit more than usual lately.
RE: post-tephra catchment care - ironyak - 02-06-2026
Really? Never really thought of things being dusty here in general given the abundant moisture and plant cover (compared to say the dry Kona side) and even if so rock dust and silicate ash are not the same.
The handful of HVO/NPS folks I've known that work/ed in the park have almost all dealt with lungs issues as they've gotten older. Small sample size and all that, and I'm sure others with a longer and wider frame of reference would have better info, but being around volcanic eruptions appears to have some occupational hazards that were more widely spread with this last event perhaps.
randomq - Hopefully medical technology will have advanced enough to save all of our lungs by the time the effects become apparent!
Umm, that would require investment in scientific studies which, as the meme goes, we don't do that here, lately even less so.
From Volcanic air pollution and human health: recent advances and future directions
"However, it remains problematic that the health effects of many major and sometimes long-duration eruptions near large populations have gone completely unmonitored. Similarly, effects of prolonged degassing on exposed populations have received very little attention relative to explosive eruptions. Furthermore, very few studies have longitudinally followed populations chronically exposed to volcanic emissions; thus, knowledge gaps remain about whether chronic exposures can trigger development of potentially fatal diseases. "
HJ - Well, kind of "good news, bad news" coming our way this weekend:
Yeah, careful what you wish for I guess - Weather.gov - "...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ALL HAWAIIAN ISLANDS FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON..."
RE: post-tephra catchment care - Punatang - 02-06-2026
Umm, that would require investment in scientific studies which, as the meme goes, we don't do that here, lately even less so. - Ironyak
Ironyak have there been scientific studies that resulted in medical advancements "here" in Puna in the past? Sounds like there were some and now there are "lately even less" for some reason? Can you cite those studies done "here" back when it was more of a thing? Which meme?