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.
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.
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