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seventhreads - the issue of an alternative route out of Puna has been going on for years. The question Wao poses is very specific but very interesting, because at least in my opinion involves long-term inaccessibility to Puna. It's unlikely to happen in our lifetime but it also is not an unrealistic scenario. Hwy 130 gets blocked a few times each year and it's a real frustration for those that have to use it for commuting. Other natural disasters apart from lava flows will also likely make it impassable and trap several thousand people in Puna during a natrual disaster, although probably not for a long period of time.
My feeling is that most people here are aware of the possibility of 130 being the only way out but since nothing has been done about it have grown cynical about anything happening to fix it, so live with the risk. It's almost a risk analysis that many have done here (knowingly or not) - the benefits of living in Puna outweigh the risks. Lava crossing Hwy 130 is way down in that list of risks, so doesn't get discussed much.
Well, just my opinion.
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I went to the "After Dark in The Park" presentation on Pu'u O'o a couple of weeks ago. The path of the Kahauale`a 2 (I call it K2) lava flow was computer simulated by taking the topography of the land, enlarging the picture so the pixels would be colored in with red according to the lowest points on the topo map. The speaker mentioned the finished lava flow on the map was "fuzzy" because satellite pictures sometimes recorded tall trees as high points of land. But the simulated flow showed lava running north of Pahoa, heading directly to Ainaloa, the southern parts of Orchidland, crossing the highway into HPP and the lava flow simulation pretty much covered any low point in HPP, all the way to Kaloli Point. BUT...the speaker reminded us that Pu'u O'o changes continuously and this flow could totally stop at some point and the lava could move to another vent along the east rim.
I hope I listened well enough to give a fairly good discussion of what I heard and understood!
It has taken almost a year to go close to five miles. If, and only if, the flow continues, the future flow would reach Ainaloa in a year.
Something to think about. I also wonder what the county has prepared for us with homes below the possible flow. What about the houses and property in the direct path of the flow? What about opening up the Chain of Craters Rd, connecting Kalapana and the NP for a possible exit? What will this information do for real estate sales and new construction? Folk...we live on an active volcano! Each of us should have an emergency plan
He who hoots with owls at night cannot soar with the eagles in the morning.
He who hoots with owls at night cannot soar with the eagles in the morning.
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I have asked this Q: before...
I find it funny that everyone should have an Emergency plan. Well, dunno... Maybe you all have enough money to buy a cheap lot close to hilo on 11 someplace like Aloha estates... One could camp I suppose if you had too on a 7K dollar vacant lot. But that would get old fast.
I dunno ... I don't know that many people in Hilo and the ones I do know I doubt I'd feel comfortable asking them if I could room it... So that is totally out of the question... Only other plan would be returning to Oahu (family) on the next plane out... Or camping out in someones lawn or beach...
I guess I find it laughable to have a emergency plan. I suspect over 90% don't have a plan and have no idea what they would do.
I thought about this for awhile and try not to be paranoid about it and try not to think about it... Maybe....Maybe Not. I'm hoping out for the maybe not in my life time plan.
I guess I'm lucky I don't have any kids, pets and that much crap. I do have a nice tent tho!
I could just imagine this happening to people with 5 dogs and cats ... 4 kids and van or pickup full of crap they thought they couldn't live with out.... It's gonna be sad and scary for most when this happens. I suspect the poor will be hit the hardest as usual.
Edit. I would surly evacuate my home. How would you get food and water? I suppose the power might be left on (for awhile) with the geothermal plant still running? But I suspect that would be shut down since, the workers would all leave for sure. So with no gas, food, clean water. You'd have to leave. Unless you planned on living off your farm and drank your catchment water and had solar. Cell tower would stop working... would get awfully lonely and boring I would think if you tried to stay.
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I'll be riding the lava wave on my titanium surf board. I won't be hanging ten though, ouch!
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I've pondered this scenario for quite some time & think improvements to beach road or route through volcano could be a short term fix however most likely once the main push of lava passes hwy 130 they'll probably just bulldoze a path over the fresh cooling lava. Drive fast so your tires don't burst
in house we also have talked about running a ferry system to Hilo for passengers & supplies as well. I agre a plan should be in place but it all depends on what pele has instore
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Surely HELCO's state of the art 19th century grid distribution system would survive a lava flow. If not, a few extension cords would work to transmit Geothermal power out of Puna.
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[quote]Originally posted by Wao nahele kane
How can something so blatantly obvious never have been planned for?
And your plan was?
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"As lava flow advances real estate prices in upper Puna skyrocket"
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I'm sure if evacuation were required those of us who live off of 11 would be happy to assist evacuees and provide you with a place to stay. After all, who knows how long before the shoe will be on the other foot?
Me ka ha`aha`a,
Mike
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Some of us do have an emergency plan for a natural disaster based on which one happens (tsunami, hurricane, earthquake, or even a dock strike, etc).
Our plan if Hwy 130 is cut off is to have a second car in Hilo parked at a friend's house. Boat from Pohiki to Hilo RT if needed. (we were also looking at our yard yesterday and what is needed for a makeshift heli-pad and we might be able to do it here.)
Also it will eventually cool and in the beginning it will probably be a 4WD road so we are prepared for that too.
The other part of the lava flow preparedness is to have stock on hand, gardens producing and solar so that we dont need to go to town very often (now I go about once a week at most on average).
The only part of this that doesnt work is if we had a tsunami, the lava flow and a hurricane all at the same time.... each one has a different plan, and they contradict each other.
*** From a FEMA nurse friend - always have a "3-day" bag ready and readily accessible in the dark with possible glass on the floor. She told us have EVERYTHING in it you need for 3 days / clothes, personal items, meds, even I-chargers (I added that one). I swap everything out at the beginning of each season. The only thing I cant put in it is my hubby's refrigerated diabetic med. I do have a little pack for it in my 3-day bag so if I can get to the fridge - and the cold pak in the freezer, we are good!
