Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense and partners have reopened an information center in Volcano
Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense and partners have reopened an information center in Volcano to provide residents with information on tephra cleanup following eruption episode 44 of Kīlauea volcano.
Joined by representatives of the Red Cross, Community Emergency Response Team, Hawaiʻi State Department of Health and other resources, staff set up the tephra information center at Cooper Center on Sunday, April 12.
Operations will continue from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. on Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14. Residents can learn how to clean tephra from their homes, protect water catchment tanks, keep themselves safer during cleanup, and more.
Residents may make requests for assistance at the information center. Requests for assistance can also be made via this online form.
Episode 44 began at 11:10 a.m. Thursday and concluded that evening. Southerly winds pushed tephra particles from the eruption north and northeast of the volcano, leaving behind varying amounts of tephra, including ash and Pele’s hair.
Kīlauea eruption episodes 41 and 43, which also occurred during southerly winds, spread tephra to areas as far away as North Hilo.
Volcanic tephra can irritate eyes, skin, and the respiratory system. When cleaning tephra, wear masks, gloves and eye protection. Use caution when clearing rooftops.
