Red Cross Reflects on Decades Long History of Helping Lava Victims

As the one-year anniversary of last year’s historic Kīauea eruption approaches, Red Cross officials pause to reflect on its decades long history of helping lava evacuees. “We’ve had quite a history of responding to volcanic disasters during our 100 years of service to the people of Hawai‘i,” said Coralie Chun Matayoshi, CEO of the American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region.

Red Cross courtesy photo

In 1926, over 90 year ago, when Mauna Loa erupted and lava began flowing toward a small Hawaiian fishing village on the South Kona Coast, Red Cross volunteers used canoes to evacuate residents. When the village was destroyed, Red Cross provided the villagers with food and water, and found them temporary shelter with family and friends.

In 1950, Mauna Loa erupted again after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake. Fast moving lava destroyed property and cut off the main highway. Red Cross quickly set up shelters and provided food and clothing to evacuees.

Red Cross courtesy photo

In 1955, Kīlauea erupted after a month long period of 200 small earthquakes a day. The Red Cross helped evacuate and shelter 350 residents for 69 days, serving 33,000 meals to disaster victims, volunteers, and emergency workers.

More recently, a Kilauea lava flow threatened the Puna area in 2014. The slow moving lava flow lasted five months, destroying a Buddhist cemetery, one home, and displaced about 1,700 students from schools potentially in its path. During the lull, Red Cross volunteers went door to door to about 100 homes in Pāhoa to make sure people were ready to evacuate. Volunteers also provided mental health counseling to anyone having difficulty dealing with the uncertainty. Because of smoke and sulfur dioxide emissions, Red Cross opened a shelter for residents leaving their homes due to air quality issues.

“Last year’s eruption was scarier because lava was moving underground, there were lots of small earthquakes, and fissures were opening up in the middle of populated subdivisions,” said Matayoshi. “People had to evacuate in a hurry not just from the lava flow, but to escape from sulfur dioxide, laze (hydrochloric acid mist formed by lava interacting with sea water) Pele’s Hair, and lava bombs. There was a lot of tension and uncertainty as to when the lava would eventually stop.”

In partnership with Hawai‘i County, the Red Cross immediately opened two shelters housing between 200 to 500 people, and 100 animals, including a pig. Shelters were open 24/7 for 138 days (four and a half months), the longest running in Hawai‘i’s history.

“There was so much uncertainty and with Mother’s Day coming up in less than two weeks (May 13). We wanted to make sure that mothers felt loved and appreciated, and try to bring some normalcy to the situation,” said Matayoshi, “so we teamed up with community partners to provide lunch, desserts, entertainment, massage, leis, and gift bags for the shelter residents. We also celebrated Father’s Day and 4th of July at the shelters.”

Red Cross courtesy photo

In total, 665 Red Cross volunteers worked almost 100,000 hours to keep the shelters open 24/7, offer crisis counseling and health services to over 10,000 people, distribute thousands of relief items, and provide casework and over $300,000 in emergency financial assistance and gift certificates to 690 families. Red Cross was also able to build capacity by recruiting 350 new Big Island volunteers and holding 50 training sessions.

The Red Cross is a nonprofit humanitarian organization which provides assistance to meet the immediate emergency needs of those affected by disasters. All Red Cross assistance to disaster victims is free. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it depends on public contributions to help others. Your gift supports the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross in your community, across the country and around the world. To send a contribution, mail your check to American Red Cross, 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96816 or make a secure online donation or call (808) 739-8109.

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