Lava Scenarios, Preparedness

[opihikao]

UPDATE: West Hawaii Today - Civil Defense Report

(*Sniped - More at link including check list handout)


http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/volcano-...cuation-be

Hawaii County Civil Defense officials will call for an evacuation should a worrisome lava flow approaching neighborhoods near Pahoa appear to be within five days of encroaching on populated areas.

Such a possibility is still a long way off, however, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Jim Kauahikaua told a packed house Thursday night at the Pahoa Community Center.

Predicting the speed and direction of the flow at this point is “nearly an impossibility” he said, but the flow appears now to be “weeks to months” from reaching Kaohe Homesteads and other neighborhoods south of Pahoa.“The lava flow continues to be active, although relatively weakly active,” he said as he showed a map of the June 27 flow, named for the day it was observed emerging from the flank of Pu‘u O‘o on Kilauea’s East Rift Zone.

As of Thursday, the easternmost tip of the flow was about 1.8 miles from the boundary of Kaohe Homesteads, but the active surface flow was still about 5.3 miles away, Kauahikaua said.

The part of the flow closest to the homes appears to have stalled, he said, with no evidence that it had appeared to advance within a large crack in the terrain.“While we are cautiously optimistic that this part of the flow is inactive, we will continue to watch it over the coming days,” reads an eruption update handed out to attendees at Thursday’s meeting.

“Currently the flow is not posing an immediate threat to area residences and critical infrastructure such as major roadways and highways.

”The flow has so far been following a series of parallel cracks that lead toward Pahoa and surrounding areas, including over Highway 130, the only large roadway leading out of lower Puna.

Should the movement of the flow indicate that it could cross major roadways in Puna, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said that the county is preparing to open up alternative roadways, including Beach, Waawaa, and Chain of Craters roads.

Oliveira added that his office and scientists at HVO are continuing to monitor the flow, and will continue to provide regular updates. On Thursday, Civil Defense began at noon to provide hourly messages to isle radio stations to keep residents informed.

See more at: http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/volcano-...bRrZl.dpuf

[Midnight Rambler]

quote:

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Originally posted by terracore

When the The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle was recently discovered on Oahu, the state pulled out all the stops. Even flew in the experts from Guam who let the beetle destroy all the palms on that island. (Imagine that conversation.... "What should we do?" "Dunno, but don't do what we did, and do something that we didn't.")

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Well...not exactly. Arguably they did more than would have happened if it had arrived in Puna first, but the guys from Guam were tearing their hair out at the lackadaisical response of the people here. The beetle grubs breed in compost (it's the adults that feed on palms), so cutting down the trees doesn't really get rid of them. The main breeding site was a huge mulch pile about 200 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 4 feet deep. Everyone was baffled as to why it hadn't been hauled to HPower and burned as soon as it was discovered. 8 months later, it's still there. Lots of traps have been put up around the island - and they just keep finding more beetles. Most likely, it's already out of control.

[terracore]

Thanks for the update. Sigh...

[missydog1]

I very rarely go to the "other places do it better mode," and actually my post was a comment on how little our Public Works gets accomplished compared to what can be done, but without suggesting anything radical like importing efficient workers.

snorkle, I don't know how often you drive through Pa'auilo, living to the south, but those of us who drove through there regularly from 2006 on were amazed at how there was always work there but not so much progress.

It was hard no to feel that the project existed to give job security to the road workers. I've also been told that HELCO keeps the tree trimming companies steadily employed by contracting them to trim a puka for the wires to run though instead of actually dealing with the tree problem in a way that will last.

OK as long as life goes on at the normal slow pace, but when something big happens, and all you have to go to work on it is people who are used to walking just fast enough to stay in one place and a little bit more, you're in trouble.

Kathy

[snorkle]

Kathy says;
"OK as long as life goes on at the normal slow pace, but when something big happens, and all you have to go to work on it is people who are used to walking just fast enough to stay in one place and a little bit more, you're in trouble."
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No need to insult the workers Kathy; I think they have risen to the recent emergency in grand fashion. As far as past HELCO job strategies; I don't blame the workers there either. They don't make their own work orders.

The problem is HELCO's stubborn reliance on a 19th century electrical transmission technology. Their managers have chosen control and profit over modernization and dependability. If they would have started investing in mini grids and individual home/neighborhood power systems as the technology emerged, we wouldn't have had the problems we had. Instead of tens of thousands without power, we'd have had hundreds.

[bluesboy]

That's correct, if they would have chosen a business model that focused on customer benefits, then we would see many many improvements at a lesser rate. That will never happen because that is not how a business operates. There sole purpose is to make money.

[DanielP]

[quote]Originally posted by snorkle

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[The problem is HELCO's stubborn reliance on a 19th century electrical transmission technology.]

The same technology is used all over the world in the 21st century.

And what kind of silly "busines" model would be so selfish as to try to make money.

[bluesboy]

I welcome anyone to try and make money, preferably not at my expense though.

[geochem]

quote:

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Originally posted by bluesboy

That's correct, if they would have chosen a business model that focused on customer benefits, then we would see many many improvements at a lesser rate. That will never happen because that is not how a business operates. There sole purpose is to make money.

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More accurately, any business that doesn't focus first on making money isn't a business - or at least not for long...

[snorkle]

Geo says;
"More accurately, any business that doesn't focus first on making money isn't a business - or at least not for long..."
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That's a distortion. Look at the "COSTCO"/"Walmart" comparison.

Walmart pays less than living wages, relies on Government to supply healthcare and food supplements to its workers, and it's owners/shareholders receive obscene profits. They continue to increase the disparity of wealth and eliminate the middle class. Not a healthy trend.

COSTCO on the other hand; CEO makes about $600,000/year rather than double digit millions; Pays workers very well, doesn't rely on Government handouts, and provides health benefits. They make a nice profit, just not an obscene one.
Healthy economic model.

edit;typo