Friday, September 19, 2014

Island of PUNA?!



USGS Photo taken June 27, 2014
This is a photo of Pu'u O'o on June 27th -- the day the NE flow began.  As of September 18th,  according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the leading edge of the lava flow is 300-500 feet wide and 1-2 feet thick. It can thicken, however, to 10 feet or higher as it builds upon itself.  Because the flow does vary, it is difficult to project the exact date that the lava will reach Pahoa and Hwy 130. Given the most recent average daily flow, HVO projects that the lava will reach Pahoa Village road around the end of the month, and Highway 130 around mid-October. *** These dates are estimate each day, based on flow activity and are updated by USGS. ***    From there it is only 4-5 miles to the ocean.



 "The Island of Puna" - home of the Punatics

The black X indicates the area of flow for the past 30 years down through Royal Gardens and Kalapana to the ocean; it is now many miles wide and impassible.  The BLUE lines indicates an old railroad path (not even a real road) and a beach road that is barely passable for most cars.  The county is going to open these temporarily for general traffic.  But the reality is there is nothing to stop the lava flow RED lines as it heads towards downhill to the ocean.  Very soon even those temporary roads will not be accessible.

The GREEN circle represents thousands of people who may will be living on The Island of Puna. (PS: One blog reader had an estimate of 8500 -- but we all know there's probably even MORE.)



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3 comments:

  1. garytrowSeptember 19, 2014 at 2:25 PM

    This blog is by far the clearest view on how disastrous this flow can be to the Puna residents. There is much talk about the flow not stopping and going thru Pahoa but almost nothing about it going to to the ocean and isolating Puna. Somewhere I read that the possible longer term solution might be making a road in your black area thru chain of creaters road. Not sure how long the commute to Hilo would be but would guess a few hours. If you have a better view of commute time please advise. I live in Kona but always tell people that Puna is the most beautiful part of the island. Hoping the flow will just stop !!!
    Aloha, Gary

    PS: I read all you latest blogs. Great work!!!

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    Replies
    1. garytrowSeptember 19, 2014 at 2:27 PM

      Oops. forgot one more bit of info. Somewhere I read that about 8500 people would be impacted.

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    2. Phil & Lunel HaysmerAugust 23, 2015 at 11:03 PM

      Good Grief Gary -- I apologize for a nearly year long delay in my response!! There are rarely any comments...which is no account to me, since I do it because it is just plain fun! By now, of course, you realize we are our of immediate danger (this time.) Hope you all Kona-side folk are getting some much needed rain this week. Aloha from Puna Land! LUNEL

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Email: haysmer@sonic.net

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