PAHOA » Churches and other faith-based groups in Pahoa are working in tandem with disaster relief officials as the community preps for the possible flow of lava across the town’s major highway.

Gary Thomas, executive director of the Sure Foundation, a Christian church, said efforts now underway build upon ongoing outreach tied to the aftermath of Tropical Strom Iselle.

"Habitat For Humanity is still working in the area and people are still in need of assistance for fixing up their homes and roofs," said Thomas, who is also a Republican candidate vying for the state House District 4 seat in next month’s general election.

Tropical Storm Iselle slammed the island Aug. 8 with winds up to 60 mph and torrential rain causing structural damage and initially leaving 25,000 Hawaii Electric Light Co. customers in the area were without power. Pockets of customers were without electricity for weeks.

Working alongside the American Red Cross, the Sure Foundation has provided a shelter area that can serve up to about 40 people.

According to Barney Sheffield, Hawaii Disaster Coordinator for the Red Cross in Hawaii County, the Sure Foundation’s church is one of a few sites pinpointed for use as a Red Cross shelter should the lava front advance into Pahoa.

The so-called June 27th lava flow started its course toward this small Hawaii island town from Kilauea Volcano’s Puu Oo vent in late June. Since Sept. 22, it has slowed and stalled. It’s now slowly advancing and posing no immediate threat to residential areas. On Friday, the front of the lava flow had advanced 100 yards from the day before and was 1.2 miles from Apaa Street in Pahoa and 1.9 miles from Pahoa Village Road, according to the Hawaii Volcano Observatory.

In addition to setting up shelter areas, Sheffield said, prep work is now focused on working with food vendors to ensure that residents will have access to meals.

Besides the Sure Foundation, leaders of the Puna Baptist Church and the Pu‘ula Congregational Church are working with Hawaii County officials and disaster relief organizations.

"There’s been a tremendous amount of cooperation on developing resources and trying to cover everything," he said. "It’s amazing because it really brought the community together and shows that we have to work together to make things happen."

That being said, Sheffield admits that he’s taking a wait-and-see approach since it’s anyone’s guess as to what will happen next.

The Rev. Alan Tamashiro of the Puna Baptist Church said if there is one thing that Tropical Storm Iselle taught him it’s that it never hurts to plan ahead.

"Iselle was the first disaster that we encountered. I don’t think anybody was prepared," Tamashiro said.

In preparation for the lava severing the community from the rest of the island, Tamashiro is teaming up with the Southern Baptists Disaster Relief organization to train church members and volunteers how to manage disaster relief efforts. Approximately 40 people attended last week’s training and 17 people became certified.

And with the church located sixth-tenths of a mile from the town’s major road, Highway 130, he said they’re also taking a wait-and-see approach.

"We’re going to stay open as long as we can," he said.

Down the road, the Rev. Diane Hultman of the Pu‘ula Congregational Church said her church is working with United Way to become a possible shelter and coordinating with other churches on the matter of collecting donations of food, water and other supplies that would be reserved to assist area residents contending with hardships and damages linked to the lava flow.

Hultman said collecting donations, which may also include monetary contributions, in advance might need to happen.

In the aftermath of Iselle many Hawaii island residents traveled from outside of Pahoa to offer assistance and donations; however, that might not be the case if Pahoa is cut off from the outside world.

"If the lava hits the roads, it’s going to be much more difficult for people to come in and out," she said. "We’re still praying it stops."