HVERI Newsletter - July 2024
Enhancing Community Resilience Through Education and Innovation
Aloha HVERI ʻohana,
Your support is vital to our mission. Together, we are enhancing the resilience and strength of communities across Hawai’i Island. Thank you for your continued commitment.
This month, we have several important updates to share, including a recap of the June Civil Defense event, tips for disaster preparedness during hurricane season, information on our regular volcano broadcasts, and insights from a recent deep earthquake offshore from Nāʻālehu. We are also excited to announce our upcoming fundraiser and the various ways you can support our initiatives.
Mahalo nui loa,
Lou Ettore
Executive Manager, HVERI
June Civil Defense Event Recap
On June 1, 2024, the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense hosted a Prep Fair in Hilo, where Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno led an enlightening session on "All Hazards Planning." This event dove into emergency management and community preparedness, covering crucial topics such as the Hawai’i Emergency Operations Plan, coordination with various partners, and the role of Outdoor Warning Sirens and Emergency Alert Systems. The event highlighted the importance of comprehensive disaster preparedness and the need for collaboration across multiple sectors.
HVERI played a pivotal role in the event, focusing on educating the public about the volcanic activity in Hawaiʻi, disaster preparedness, and the importance of staying informed. Our volcano education booth attracted many attendees, where we provided detailed information on how to prepare for volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters. We also highlighted the critical role of our Digital Resilience Hubs, which are designed to bridge the communication gap between officials and the community during emergencies. These hubs utilize social media to disseminate accurate information quickly and coordinate response efforts effectively.
Coordination with partners is essential for effective disaster preparedness and response. The event highlighted the importance of working with the Hawaiʻi Fire Department, Hawaiʻi Police Department, County Departments, Federal and State Agencies, public and private businesses, the Department of Defense, utilities, and other organizations. This collaborative approach ensures all sectors are ready to act in unison during emergencies, enhancing the community's resilience and response capabilities.
Our participation showcased our significant progress since the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and highlighted the collaborative efforts necessary to enhance Hawaiʻi's disaster readiness. HVERI remains committed to improving disaster preparedness through education and community engagement, building a safer and more resilient Hawaiʻi Island. The event was a testament to the power of community collaboration in enhancing our island's resilience and preparedness.
Looking for more information on digital resilience? Visit our website page: https://hveri.org/digital-resilience
Disaster Preparedness for Hurricane Season - Strengthening Community Preparedness
Hawaiʻi's hurricane season is upon us and runs from June 1 to November 30, making it crucial to be prepared and stay informed during these months. As we have learned over the years with Hurricanes Lane, Dora, and Hiki, they don't necessarily need to make landfall to significantly affect our fragile island infrastructure. Our Digital Resilience Hubs are equipped to provide timely updates and support through social media platforms. However, there are steps you could take before disaster hits. Most commonly, assembling an emergency kit, creating a family communication plan, and knowing your designated neighborhood shelter locations is a great start.
Do you have a checklist? Checklist of what you may be thinking. A great place to start preparing is the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency’s website. They provide comprehensive resources and checklists to help you get ready and be ready for hurricane season. Visit HI-EMA’s Prepare Your Family page for detailed information.
Beyond personal preparedness, HVERI is working with communities alongside Hawai’i County Civil Defense, Vibrant Hawai’i, and the network of Hawai’i Island Resilience Hubs to improve the resilience of our systems and our ability to respond to such a series of disasters. Do you have a resilience hub within your community? Contact your neighborhood community center or fire department to see if one exists near you, and if not, get active. Consider forming one for your community to enhance preparedness.
Remember, preparation is key to minimizing the impact of hurricanes and other disasters and ensuring the well-being of our loved ones. Stay connected with HVERI for the latest updates, resources, and tips on how to stay safe during hurricane season. Together, we can build a more resilient Hawai’i Island.
Stay Informed - Weekly Volcano - Broadcasts and Summaries
HVERI’s Broadcasts and Volcano Summaries
At the Hawaiian Volcano Education and Resilience Institute (HVERI), one of our key initiatives is to keep the community informed about volcanic activity and related hazards through regular broadcasts and volcano summaries. We livestream on YouTube, Facebook, X, and Instagram, and with just 127 more followers, we will soon be live on LinkedIn as well. Our efforts to disseminate accurate and timely information are crucial in enhancing public awareness and preparedness.
Inclusive Communication with ASL Interpreters
HVERI is committed to ensuring that all members of our community have access to vital information about volcanic activity and disaster preparedness. To support this goal, we use nationally licensed through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf during our live broadcasts and hopefully soon, community events. By incorporating ASL interpreters, we can effectively communicate with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, ensuring they receive the same timely and accurate information as everyone else. HVERI’s inclusive approach helps to enhance public safety and preparedness for all individuals on Hawaiʻi Island.
Weekly Volcano Updates
Each week, HVERI produces comprehensive volcano updates that provide the latest information on volcanic activity, including eruption alerts, seismic events, and gas emissions. These updates are created by collecting data courtesy of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, ensuring that the information is accurate and up-to-date. Our team carefully analyzes this data to provide clear and concise reports that are easily understood by the public. We also include visual aids, such as maps and charts, to help illustrate the current volcanic conditions. By making this information accessible, we aim to keep the community informed and prepared.
Live Broadcasts
In addition to our written summaries, we host live broadcasts every Thursday at 5 PM HST, offering real-time updates on volcanic activity. These live sessions are streamed on our social media channels, including Facebook, YouTube, X, and Instagram. During these broadcasts, we discuss current volcanic events, answer questions from the community, and provide an “on-the-ground” analysis of Hawai'i volcanoes. The interactive nature of these broadcasts allows us to engage directly with the public and address your concerns promptly.
Stay connected with HVERI on our social media channels for the latest updates, live broadcasts, and educational content. Together, we can build a more informed and prepared community.
M4.1 Deep Earthquake Offshore from Nāʻālehu - Understanding the Nāʻālehu M4.1 Earthquake
At 1:43 PM, a magnitude 4.1 earthquake occurred offshore of Nāʻālehu at a depth of 22.7 miles (36.5 km). This event was felt by 67 individuals but did not result in any significant changes to the nearby Kīlauea or Mauna Loa volcanoes. Such deep earthquakes are not uncommon in this region and provide valuable data for understanding the geological activity beneath Hawaiʻi Island.
The area around Pāhala has been particularly active, experiencing over 1,300 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 1 and depths exceeding 20 km (12 miles) since August 2019. These deep earthquakes, often occurring between 25-40 km (15-25 miles) below the surface, cluster near Pāhala and extend offshore. This persistent seismic activity is believed to be related to the upwelling of magma within fluid-filled cracks deep beneath the island, a process that has been observed since at least the 1960s. Improved seismic monitoring has allowed scientists to better understand these deep tremors and their implications for volcanic activity.
Studies have revealed a broad zone of low seismic velocity deep beneath the southern part of the island, indicating a magma source feeding the active volcanoes. The seismic activity in Pāhala offers insights into the magma transport pathways that may lead to Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Although these deep earthquakes do not pose a significant hazard, understanding them helps scientists prepare for potential volcanic activity, contributing to the resilience and safety of Hawaiʻi's communities.
While these deeper earthquakes generally do not pose a significant hazard, shallow crustal earthquakes in the same geographic area can be more damaging. For instance, the region experienced the 1868 magnitude-7.9 Great Ka‘ū earthquake and its many aftershocks, which caused considerable destruction.
“Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Please help each other, including our Emergency Managers.”
AI Art and Difficulties in Identifying Computer-Generated Content
In this video, we test the waters of AI-generated art, focusing on realistic depictions of events such as volcanic eruptions, hurricane aftermaths, and tsunamis. We revisit AI-generated images from last year and put them through the latest versions of MidJourney and Dall-E to see how the technology has evolved.
We examine the detail, realism, and overall quality that these AI tools have achieved. While much of the “AI art” we have created can be easily distinguished from real photos, others present a more significant challenge in discerning AI-generated fiction from authentic imagery.
Could an AI-generated image fool you into thinking something is happening on Hawai'i Island that isn’t?
By examining the details, we can begin to identify the nuances that can help distinguish between AI-generated and authentic images. Our goal is to showcase AI image generators' incredible potential and ability to depict disasters in Hawai'i. Watch the video here…
Upcoming Fundraiser and Corporate Involvement
We are excited to announce our upcoming Summer 2024 Fundraiser, which will raise essential funds to support our disaster preparedness, resilience programs, and youth development program. This summer, we seek corporate sponsors to join us in our mission. Partnering with us provides a unique opportunity for your business to demonstrate its commitment to community resilience and make a significant impact on Hawai’i Island.
By participating in our fundraiser, your business can support our initiatives in several impactful ways:
Event Matching Contributions: Consider matching the total amount raised during the event, doubling the impact of our fundraising efforts.
Direct Donations: Make a one-time or recurring donation to our fundraiser. Every dollar raised helps us reach our goal and expand our programs.
Sponsorship: Sponsor a specific event or activity within our fundraiser, such as a live broadcast, educational webinar, or interactive community event. Sponsorship levels can be customized to fit your business needs and desired level of involvement.
Your support will directly enhance the resilience and safety of our local communities, particularly in disaster-prone areas. As a partner, your business will receive visibility and recognition through our campaign materials, social media posts, live event mentions, and newsletters. This exposure highlights your commitment to community welfare and positions your brand as a leader in corporate social responsibility.
To learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference, please contact Lou Ettore, HVERI Executive Manager, at (808) 464-3576 or via email at lou@hveri.org. Together, we can strengthen our community's ability to respond to and recover from disasters.
