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<br />CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY Date: May 19, 2018 <br />MEDIA UPDATE Time: 6:00 AM <br /> Update: #1 <br /> <br />Incident: East Rift Zone Eruption <br /> <br />This is a Civil Defense Message for Saturday, May 19 at 6:00 in the morning. <br /> <br />Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports a small steam explosion occurred in Halemaumau Crater last night <br />around midnight. National Weather Service reports the ash plume rose to around 7000 feet. Trade winds <br />pushed the ash plume to the southwest toward Kau, Pahala, and Naalehu. Residents of these areas are <br />reminded to protect yourself from ash fallout by remaining indoors or by using dust masks. <br />Fissures east of Pohoiki Road near Lanipuna gardens continue to erupt, producing a slow moving lava flow. <br />Four homes were destroyed, but no highways are threatened at this time. <br /> <br />Due to the volcanic activity, the following policies are in effect: <br /> <br /> Pohoiki Road is closed. <br /> Residents from Isaac Hale Beach Park to Kalapana are advised to prepare for voluntary evacuation <br />should Highway 137 become threatened. <br /> For those evacuating, the Pahoa Community Center, Keaau Community Center, and Sure <br />Foundation Church are open. Food will be provided and the shelters are pet friendly. <br /> Highway 132 and 130 are open to local traffic past the checkpoints. <br /> <br />The residents of Puna are going through a very difficult time. We ask for your help and understanding. <br /> <br />Thank you for listening. We are on watch 24-hours a day for your safety. <br /> <br />This is your Hawai‘i County Civil Defense. <br />