Lava Flow - What's really happening in Pahoa? (Kilauea: 2014, power lines)

[mdand3boys]

I saw this morning's Civil Defense update and had to be somewhat mystified as to their description, because it doesn't match reality.

All of the daily updates can be located, here:

County of Hawaii - Civil Defense Alerts and Information

This is an eruption and lava flow Information Update for Thursday October 23rd at 8:45 am This morning’s assessment shows that the narrow finger that was advancing along the south edge of the flow has advanced approximately 425 yards since yesterday. This new flow front is active and moving in a northeast direction. Currently the leading edge of the advancing flow is approximately .3 miles from the Apa’a Street area near the Pahoa Transfer Station. There was very little burning activity and smoke conditions were moderate. There is no brush fire threat at this time.

Moderate smoke conditions?

The bluish colored smoke plume from the flow was very evident this morning (7:30am) in Pahoa Village and there are currently numerous video documentary companies working on projects. Two of these groups were actively videoing and taking pictures of the plume and Village buildings from along Pahoa Village Road this morning. Coming into Pahoa Village from upper Leilani, the smoke was so thick it was like a light fog. In the 2 businesses I went into, people were discussing the smoke, its awful smell (kind of like an electrical fire) and what effects it might be having on people with respiratory issues such as asthma or COPD.

What Civil Defense is not saying is that the old dirt road that is nearly adjacent to the transfer station, is a direct path to the lava flow. That is why they have closed the road and posted an officer there, as of yesterday afternoon. The 126 acre parcel directly behind the transfer station, that contains the dirt road - had been leased to a local rancher who got all of his cattle (about 60) moved out a few weeks ago. Directly behind that parcel, where the lava is certainly making its presence, is a 1100 acre parcel owned by the Catholic Church which has the flow running directly through it. I suspect that this morning, the flow front is now into that 126 acre parcel.

Here is a fantastic picture, taken yesterday, and posted by the USGS folks. After opening the link, click on the picture to expand it even more. It is very high definition. You can clearly see the dirt road!

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/multimedia/up...iaFile-874.jpg

All updates to the lava flow can be had through either of these two sites:

USGS, who has nice maps, pictures, webcams, etc:
HVO Kilauea Status

Hawaii County Civil Defense:
County of Hawaii - Civil Defense Alerts and Information


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[mdand3boys]

This link, to the county property tax maps, should (if it works right) show the 126 acre parcel, outlined in red. The giant parcel surrounding it, is the 1100 acre Roman Catholic Church parcel. Double-clicking should allow you to zoom in, if the site's buttons do not work.

Hawaii County Parcel Maps

This parcel map also shows in great detail, how the various local subdivisions come into play around this particular lava flow.

[mdand3boys]

Just went to the Pahoa transfer station. Things have changed dramatically around the Village since yesterday.

The Re-Use Center has been emptied and there is a crane truck and other trucks parked near the entrance, which looks like they will be removing anything of value today or tonight. A yellow/orange colored smoke cloud is readily visible, just 400+ yards away from the Southwest of the transfer station. It is real easy to see now, that the spot where the flow front is, is about 50 feet higher in elevation than Apa'a St.

HELCO (electric company) has stationed a number of line trucks at the intersection of Apa'a and Pahoa Village road. Looks like they are establishing a temporary base yard there.

A large truck had just dumped boulders across the emergency fire break road that is a couple hundred yards from the transfer station, presumably to keep people from driving down it. There are multiple police and Civil Defense vehicles parked just past the entrance to the transfer station - where the road block is.

There have been 3 Matson containers placed in the back-side high school parking lot, near the library.

A 125ft boom truck and crew is cutting down Albizia, between Pahoa and Nanawale subdivision. Amazing that the 125ft boom doesn't reach to the tops of those massive trees! Since this will be a detour area, it makes sense for them to be pro-active and drop those killer trees now.

[Due]

Great info!

[mdand3boys]

Update.

Spent Friday afternoon helping a family move (one of my son's friends family).
They packed up boxes, we helped transfer to other people's vans/trucks.
We all went to Kaleo's Friday night - good thing the people had reservations! Was sold out!
Great food and drinks as always!

Saturday spent moving 2nd story. Reminder to self - 17 steps can be a killer!
Went to Luquin's late Saturday afternoon, saw nwcountrygal and her fiance' - great people! - Luquin's jammed full as well!

Sunday morning to mid-afternoon. Finished moving the friends out.

We all went to Luquin's to celebrate - again, people everywhere! Great for the people who get by on tips!

Sunday late afternoon update - heavy smoke billowing up from the flow front. Still not that close to Pahoa Village Road though. Must be burning though the pasture near the cemetery.

[mdand3boys]

Early evening update from USGS confirmed why the smoke was billowing up so near to Pahao!

Sunday, October 26, 2014 5:59 PM HST
HVO scientists conducted ground observations of the June 27th lava flow throughout the day on Sunday, October 26, 2014. The relatively narrow finger of lava that crossed Apaʻa Street yesterday morning continued to travel downslope, splitting into two lobes as it advanced. The faster, northern lobe crossed completely through the Pāhoa cemetery by mid-morning, while the slower southern lobe was advancing through open pasture south of the cemetery. Another lobe farther upslope, just above Apaʻa Street, advanced about 50 meters (55 yards) since yesterday.

HVO Kilauea Status

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[mdand3boys]

The cemetery has been covered. A few hours ago, Pahoa Village Road was closed from between Apa'a St (road to the transfer station) and Post Office Road. Evacuations of the homes between there are underway, now. This is a low lying area, and directly where those "blue lines" on the maps have been predicting it would flow. Really glad we got my son's friends family already moved out.

On this map - the 2 blue lines that merge is exactly where the flow is, right now. It is just a few hundred yards from Pahoa Village Road.

[mdand3boys]

The small Buddhist cemetery was overran late Sunday afternoon.

This morning (Tues 10/28) while there was heavy smoke to the South and East of Pahoa Village, there was no smoke or even smell in the village area itself. Other than school traffic, there wasn't much going on in town, mainly due to the way they have made the only entrance into town at the intersection where the high school is - and traffic must either turn around or exit out Post Office Rd, which is a one-way only now, out of the village and back to the highway.

HELCO, Hawaiian Telcom and Oceanic crews with line trucks were working along the village roadway to install new, 70 foot high utility poles and wrap them in the new insulating barrier that has already shown to be successful in keeping the power lines (and poles) safe from the lava.

Water Department is planning on turning off the water supply on either side of the flow, as it gets closer. People have been notified to expect about a 50psi drop in pressure when that happens. Just hope that the water is deemed safe by the health department and the restaurants in the area can continue to stay open and employ people.

[leilaniguy]

3:00 this afternoon, Traffic slowed to a crawl, dead stop for awhile with lots of lookie loo's, lots of black smoke just above the low spot on 130. Later learned it was lava burning tires and junk.

[mdand3boys]

Correct - that was right about 3pm. I have some pictures, but out of respect for the property owners in the area, won't post them here.