UAV's: To use, or not to use...

The use of UAV's is not really a question anymore.  They ARE being used by a multitude of agencies and organization, and civilian user!  There are opportunities for positive use, misuse and more significantly dangerous use.


There was an agencies that purchased a UAV prior to doing their due diligence on 'where' they planned to use them.  As a result, after an expensive purchase they were denied the ability to use the UAV upon the realization that they were too close to the end of the runway at an international airport.


Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency has experienced both positive and negative uses of UAVs.  Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency is currently responding to an active lava flow threatening the village of Pahoa.  They coordinated with the FAA to establish restricted airspace control measures that centered over the leading edge of the active portion of the lava flow.


In the first case, we experienced numerous cases of a civilian UAV flying over the flow.  It was in restricted airspace at the same time as an authorized helicopter media flight and a National Guard helicopter over flight.  The footage was being used by television news and various Blogs.  The individual was finally confronted and appears to have ceased operations.


In the second case, Hawaii County Civil Defense utilized the University of Hawaii at Hilo's UAV for high definition reconnaissance.


Key to success is positive airspace control measures and the difficult task of tracking down violators, and enforcing airspace control measures.  I also believe there is a need to establish appropriate use standards to alleviate concerns of misuse. 

Lava Flow Access - Two Competing Priorities

     When it comes to natural disasters, First Amendment rights and community interest does not necessarily mean a right to access!  Cooperation and compromise can lead to solutions!

     There has been considerable contention between the media and the public; and the County of Hawaii regarding the 'right' to access the ongoing "June 27th" lava flow currently nearing Pahoa Village.

     The media would like unfettered access by land and air to continuously conduct visits, over-flights and interviews.   When advised that access was restricted, they either sought 'work-arounds' such as getting a 'residents' permission to access the lava flow and residents for interviews; or blatantly dis-regarding the restrictions and sneaking in.  Many visitors and community residents feel strongly that they should be allowed to access the lava flow for personal viewing, and occasionally to touch and interact with the lava.  Their reasons range from a desire to gain a form of understanding and closure explaining why their lives are being changed by the lava flow itself, to just general interest and wonder.

     The County of Hawaii, specifically the Office of the Mayor and Civil Defense Agency feel that the hazard and corresponding risks are too great to allow access to the lava flow.  The County of Hawaii takes their guidance from the scientists from the Hawaii Volcano Observatory and from long record of experience dealing with catastrophic lava flows.  The hazards consist of: geographical terrain features such as cracks and pits in the ground, dense forests, and high and temperature and high humidity; to molten lava, toxic fumes, and exploding methane gas pockets.  In addition, much of the more accessible lava is on private property which the vast majority (but not all)  of owners have stated they do not want press on their property.

     To reconcile these seemingly opposite positions Hawaii County has instituted a number of measures.  In the interest of reducing risks posed by the lava and related hazards, they placed a roadblock on Pahoa Village Road in the lava flow's likely path to allow resident privacy and unfettered ability to evacuate; and secured a Federal Aviation Administration or Temporary Flight Restriction (no fly zone) over the active lava flow.  In one case thus far, they arrested two individuals who trespassed and snuck in to the lava flow.  In the interest of providing more access, they hired a professional videographer to shoot up-to-date video and provide it free-at no charge to the Media; they also established a media validation scheme wherein the media can establish credentials, hire an aircraft platform and then seek a time block to access the airspace over the lava flow.  The County of Hawaii is also conducting planning meetings in order to establish public community lava flow viewing areas (if it can be done safely) once the lava leaves private property.

     Only time will tell how well the restrictions and compromises will meet the needs of Hawaii County, the Media and community.

Hawaii Island Volcanic Hazard - Lava Flow. (Civil Defense, Lead and Supporting Agencies)

     On June 27th, 2014 a new lava flow began a long journey towards the sea.  Significant was that it flowed to the North East.  Traditionally (for more than 20 years) lava flows had flowed downhill towards the South East.  This is the first of a number of posts dealing with the players, analysis of hazard and risk, preparation, response and recovery.
     Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency has always recognized that we are like the 3M Commercial..."we don't make the tape...we make it stickier".  What this means is we have always recognized that for any emergency or disaster there is a "lead agency".  The lead agency for volcano or lava flows is the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Hawaii Volcano Observatory (HVO).  The HVO has a team of professionals that are dedicated to their field.  They are the subject matter experts that advise and direct the Civil Defense Agency. 
     The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency also recognizes that in all disasters there are supporting agencies.  For the hazard and risk of a lava flow; key supporting agencies are; Office of the Mayor, Police, Fire, Department of Public Works, Information Technology, Department of Environmental Management, State Highways, State Department of Land and Natural Resource-Enforcement, National Guard, and State Civil Defense - Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
     The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency takes the role of maintaining the 'physical plant' of the emergency response in order to empower the lead and supporting agencies.  Their key mission is the collection and analysis of information in order to convert it into intelligence.  It can then be presented in a common operational picture so that lead and supporting agencies, and the executive, can make informed decisions regarding planning, preparedness and response actions and priorities.

 

The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency Emergency Operations Center