The coastline of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is seen in this 2008 file photo. Park recently completed work to become designated Tsunami Ready and Storm Ready by the National Weather Service. (Erin Miller/West Hawaii Today)
The coastline of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is seen in this 2008 file photo. Park recently completed work to become designated Tsunami Ready and Storm Ready by the National Weather Service. (Erin Miller/West Hawaii Today)
The coastline of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is seen in this 2008 file photo. Park recently completed work to become designated Tsunami Ready and Storm Ready by the National Weather Service. (Erin Miller/West Hawaii Today)
Visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are getting updated information on what to do if a tsunami hits the coastline, or if inclement weather threatens the park’s highest slopes.
Park officials recently completed the process of getting the National Weather Service’s Tsunami Ready and Storm Ready designations, Chief Ranger Talmadge Magno said. The application process codified many of the park’s warning systems and evacuation plans, which “naturally evolved” over several years, he added.
One highlight is an “early notification for backpack users on the coast to make them aware of the tsunami potential on the coastline,” Magno said.
New literature was placed at coastal campsites throughout the park, reminding hikers if they feel an earthquake, they need to move inland immediately, he said.
“If you do have an earthquake, you only have minutes” he said. “Know your escape routes.”
Hikers will also be advised park staff will reach them via helicopter in the case of emergencies, and either immediately evacuate them or instruct them to await more information, Magno said.
The park also added several new weather radios, which broadcast weather advisories, to the dispatch center and other areas where park staff and visitors are located, he said. Those broadcasts will help park staff get more information to make decisions about what emergency actions they should take.
“For the mountain, we’ve always just watched the weather service and based on forecasted weather, warned visitors or shut down the road,” Magno said. The Storm Ready program provided guidelines to update the trail closure system.
The entire designation process took about 18 months, he said.
The park faces additional challenges because of the varied topography and elevation within its boundaries.
The park has 32 miles of coastline and also includes the slopes and summit of Mauna Loa, at 13,677 feet above sea level. New signs mark the tsunami inundation zones.
According to the National Weather Service, Hawaii County is also designed Tsunami Ready.
