Hawaii County Civil Defense could elevate the lava threat level for Puna residents to a warning from a watch Thursday.
Molten rock continued to creep closer toward the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision, less than a mile away, not only potentially threatening to overrun homes but also to cut off the only way out for residents in the area.
A warning is the highest alert level, meaning a hazardous eruption is imminent, underway or suspected. A watch means an eruption is underway but poses limited hazards.
Civil defense encouraged residents to review their emergency plans in the event an evacuation is necessary, although the flow Wednesday posed no imminent threat to area communities.
An afternoon flyover revealed the so-called June 27th lava flow was about 0.8 mile from the Kaohe Homesteads and moving directly at it. Its speed varies with the terrain.
"What we’re seeing is a continuation of the activity that we’ve been observing for the past couple of weeks," said Janet Babb, geologist and spokeswoman for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
The typical activity: Lava enters a ground crack, fills it, emerges, forms a surface flow that moves on and cascades into the next crack, Babb said.
On Tuesday night, the lava had welled up out of the crack to feed new surface flows.
After a civil defense flyover Wednesday morning, the agency reported the surface flow was seen "moving very slowly and does not pose an immediate threat to area residents."
The evacuation of livestock is already beginning. One rancher was told to evacuate about 60 head of cattle, said Sidney Singer of the Good Shepherd Foundation in Puna.
Singer estimated tens of thousands of animals live in the area and might need to be moved. He urged owners of livestock and pets to begin making plans now to find refuge for them.
He said it’s not just those in the path of the lava, but also animals in the entire area affected by smoke from burning brush, including trees downed by Tropical Storm Iselle.
Singer has created Hawaii Evacuation of Livestock and Pets (H.E.L.P.) Puna, a nonprofit "Craigslist" of sorts at helppuna.org to help Puna residents post or find ads to connect with other Big Islanders who may be able to provide shelter and other services for their animals or themselves. The Good Shepherd Foundation is also accepting donations to help with transportation, feed and boarding costs.
Singer said that if the lava flows over the roadway, "it could cut off this area from transportation," adding, "We need to make plans now."
Civil defense and the volcano observatory will hold another meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Pahoa High School cafeteria to update residents.
The public is advised access to and visibility of the flow cannot be made from public areas. Nonresidents are also advised to refrain from going through the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision.
State enforcement officers will conduct patrols to remind the public of the restricted access.
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On the Net:
To track the lava flow, see maps and photos, go to hvo.wr.usgs.gov or for civil defense updates, go to hawaiicounty.gov/active-alerts
