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."
"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."