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Not to beat a dead horse, but here is one of those CD messages I couldn't make heads or tails of.
Text Alert:
CD Sun, 5/20 6AM HVO reports flow front 3 split into 2 flows, both entering the ocean, and sulfur dioxide emissions greatly increased... (rest made sense)
As there was no previous mention of a flow front 3 in any message (except maybe that there were 4 flows going, 2 westerly, 2 easterly) so my first though was that one of the flows in the papaya fields east of Pohoiki had split, but then how had they both reached the ocean without any forewarning? Presumably there were multiple flow fronts on on the flows west of Pohoiki which split but ultimately all entered the ocean (so that's that).
The "sulfur dioxide emissions greatly increased" (from what to what? where?) was at least later revised to the tripling in the downwind area of the rift.
I know the old adage "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity" but it still makes me wonder why it can be so difficult to merely relay HVO's statements, which always appear to be so well articulated elsewhere.
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Greatly increased means that if you're in an area currently experiencing SO2, expect it to get worse. PPM readings vary greatly depending on winds and your location so it's impossible to be more specific in a text message. You have to look on their maps for the flow fronts which are numbered chronologically as they occur but they might not be labeled.
The alerts are being updated 3 times a day, that's about as timely as it gets for correct information.
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kil...tatus.html
And their twitter gets lots of updates at random times. It's more touchy-feely which are more social media-ish.
https://twitter.com/USGSVolcanoes
Activity Summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8862
In addition there is a lot of false information spreading quickly on social media and especially youtube. So much so that outlets are starting to publish warnings about it.
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2018...tion-info/
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Absolutely not. This has been a debacle from the beginning. They truly had no clue what they were doing. They wouldn't allow residents in when there were fissures only at the bottom and it was relatively safe. Then after numerous homes were destroyed, fallen power lines, huge cracks in the roads, active lava flows and gas emmisions everywhere they finally decided to allow people in. Great that they finally decided to open it up but too late for a lot of people.
They sent out their version of the fake missile alert "EMERGENCY ALERT SEVERE. Leilani Subdiv. South of Leilani between Kupono Mahala must exit thru Pohoiki Rd. Go now"
Oops, what they meant to send was it's past 6:00 PM you need to exit.
They made an announcement that people who lived in Leilani only down to Maile could get in. Then they started letting anyone who lived in the neighborhood go in but no announcement on that part.
Iselle they handled pretty good but different Mayor and different head of Civil Defense.
They were completely and utterly incompetent in their handling of anything to do with the Leilani eruptions. They played it 100% by ear. This administration majorly dropped the ball period!!
Due to their incompetence many family's lost not only their homes but their belongings. Many of whom had them packed up and ready to go but weren't allowed in to get it.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but anyone on the outside looking in who wasn't part of this who states otherwise has absolutely no idea what you are talking about!
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I realize the original question was in regards to their website. My response is regarding Civil Defense' handling of the entire process.
Besides, during an emergency those truly in the zone don't have time to reference the Civil Defense website which lags way behind.
If their website is anything like how they handled the rest of the event then it too was useless.
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leilanidude @ 14:25:48 05/20/2018-
Hawaii Bound @ 06:22:21 and 06:27:43 05/21/2018-
Yes, Yes, and Yes.
"A cynic is an optimist with experience"
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Eric1600 - https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kil...tatus.html
All the information you linked to is for USGS (which few people have complaints about) - this thread is talking about the Civil Defense website and updates.
There are no flow front labels on the Civil Defense map:
https://hawaiicountygis.maps.arcgis.com/...2761793078
Nor on any maps from USGS for this event:
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kil..._maps.html
As for SO2 levels, that is your interpretation, not an actual fact. It could also be that the SO2 sources greatly increased so that any areas affected from here on out will be even worse (regardless of if they are currently affected or not). Given that only Civil Defense is being given SO2 readings from the 10+ DOH sensors they are the only ones able to provide data on where is being affected and to what degree. And yet all we get "Gas levels remain high. Take actions to limit further exposure." (CD 5/21 @ 8:30a)
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CD is a mess! If their purpose is to be ready for emergencies this one has exposed that they are absolutely not. They don't seem to have a clear plan or chain of command system to work with other agencies and they've left the public largely in the dark many times. One of the key things modern emergency management agencies need to have is the ability to add data quickly to already existing, accurate maps. This one is slowly getting better but was not evident at all in the early days of this emergency. It could have been critical to let people know which roads were open or closed and it seemed they didn't even know what was going on from one checkpoint to the next.
Lastly, I don't believe they've provided nearly enough information about the dangers of So2 gas for people to make informed decisions. I know there's basic info out there and they say to avoid the gas but a lot of people still think its just vog. Vog may be 1 part per million SO2 or less but right near or downwind of fissures readings have been 100 ppm +. (3M magenta cartridge gas masks are only rated for up to 10 ppm.) I saw county workers on 130 near the SO2 spewing cracks a couple days ago wearing only dust masks! Clearly there isn't good info even for their workers.
A few days ago I overheard a couple people talking about adding baking soda to their drinking water as a substitute for wearing gas masks. They weren't aware that even the masks are only a stop gap. I think if people really knew the dangers of exposure, especially to kids and elderly, some would probably make different decisions. CD needs to realize that there are a lot of people who don't really understand the possible long term effects to their health and probably many can't even afford a 50 dollar gas mask.
Punatics, we're on our own...
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Given that only Civil Defense is being given SO2 readings from the 10+ DOH sensors they are the only ones able to provide data on where is being affected and to what degree.
I'm not sure what's involved, but it's unfortunate Civil Defense doesn't have a SO2 website similar to the USGS earthquake webpage, which rapidly reports and plots their location and magnitude after each quake.
If Civil Defense had a Hawaii County Map showing the location of their sensors and readings, we could probably determine our personal risk by walking outside to check which way the wind is blowing.
Portion of Hawaii’s drinking water that comes from underground wells : 9/10
Gallons of raw sewage that leak into the ground from Hawaii cesspools each day : 53,000,000 - Harper's Index
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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@ironyak CD is mostly focused on access and hazards. If you want info on the lava then check with USGS. As I said the lava fronts were numbered chronologically and mostly impromptu because they were changing so fast and I would guess the numbering was probably just an internal reference for emergency workers that leaked out, so to speak. In fact I'm pretty surprised they've kept the maps as updated as they are because everything is changing quickly.
I'm not sure why everyone is complaining so much. This is a fast moving situation and they've done a good job keeping people safe while still allowing access when needed. Sure there are going to be some issues with everyone getting access and some messages, but in general people have been kept safe and the public, while craving minute by minute action might be a bit denied, overall the people in dangerous areas have been alerted fast enough to avoid any deaths. It's been about 18 days of people working around the clock.
I don't think their priority should be building a website to integrate SO2 data. They've done a good job of alerting shelters and the HUB when PPMs are at high levels or expected to rise. The 2 sensors I've seen are just hand held units that someone has to physically check and radio results in. They are portable and will probably be moved around as things evolve.
