Places in Hawaii

Is it safe to live in Hilo with the tsunami threat and volcanoes?

Is it safe to live in Hilo with the tsunami threat and volcanoes?

Public Comments

1. yes they have tsunami warning system there.
2. Look online for Hilo's history. Many people living there without incident for many years. It is the wet side of the island so the volcano smoke won't be as much of an issue.
3. They do have warning systems for the tsunamis. The volcanoes aren't the explosive kind (they just flow) so they can't really do any harm. They can move toward you slowly, but you can easily get out of the way. Hilo...that's cool...that's where nigahiga is from. ;)
4. Yes, it is more or less very safe. The volcanoes in Hawai'i are all shield volcanoes, so lava merely flows, they never erupt explosively. You are perfectly safe form volcanoes. Recently, however, Kilauea has been emitting massive amounts of smoke into the air, so bad that people in Kona cannot see the top of Mauna Loa and have had to drive with headlights on in the past. But, since Hilo is in the rainforest, the rain will wash away the smoke and you'll never even know Kilauea is emitting smoke. Therefore, you are perfectly safe from volcanoes of any kind. Tsunamis are your only other threat. It takes a few hours for a tsunami to cross the Pacific, and Hawai'i has the most advanced tsunami detection system in the world, so you will have HOURS of notice of any tsunami formed across the Pacific. The only threat you have are from tsunamis formed in Hawai'i, but the odds are low and the tsunami would be very small. Additionally, tsunamis only go inland about 200 vertical feet I'd estimate, probably more like 50, so as long as you don't have a beach side million dollar home, a tsunami won't affect you much at all anyway. In short, Hilo is a perfectly safe place to live, much safer than any major city, any city on the gulf coast, any city in California, etc.
5. I would say it is pretty safe. I loved it there when we went on vacation. There is a history of a tsunami causing a lot of damage. As long as you pay heed to warnings, you should be fine. Volcanoes might destroy property but don't hurt to many people.
6. Be realistic. The greatest threat to any American is heart disease followed closely by cancer. The probability that you will die as a result of a tsunami or a volcano is quite small compared to the real threats.
7. Learn about volcanoes,earthquakes and Tsunami. As my country can be affected only by earthquakes and Tsunami I have done several research on early warning systems for the above disasters only.But the earthquake alarm designed by me and proved its capability on several occassions including on the day of Tsunami can also warn the volcanoes. Both the Tsunami and volcanoes will not affect you immediatly.Therefore if your meteorological department is alert they can save you from this.Visit my answer section by typing in Google As A.Ganapathy India .Read the following safety measures. PROTECTION DURING EARTHQUAKES & Tsunami The following are some of the important precaution to be observed to save our life during an earthquake. Even though we do not have fool proof system to fore warn earthquakes some of the changes in nature or in the behaviors of animals and birds may help to decide the situations. Before an earthquake. Have a battery powered radio, flash light, and first aid kids in your house , Make sure every one knows where they are kept , Learn first aid; teach how to stop electric main and gas supply , Don’t keep heavy objects in high shelves , Fasten heavy appliances to the floor, and anchor heavy furniture to the walls , Plan for your family for reuniting after an earthquake if anybody separated , Urge your school teachers to discuss earthquake safety in the class rooms, and ask them to conduct drills ,Keep some dry fruits and drinking water. Find out your office has an emergency plan, know your responsibility at your works during an emergency .Keep some dry fruits and drinking water . During an earthquake. Stay calm if you are indoors, stay out if you are out of buildings. Many injuries occur as people enter or leave the buildings. If you are indoors , stand against the a wall near the center of the building, or get under a sturdy table keep some cushion on your head, Stay away from windows and outside doors, if you are in a high rise building stand against a support column. If you are in outdoor stay in the open place , keep away from over head electric wires. and bridges, Don’t use open flames, if you are in a moving vehicle stop away from over bridges and stay inside the vehicle still earthquake stops. After an earthquake. Check yourself and nearby people for injury, provide first aid, Check electric and gas connection, Turn on your radio or T.V for emergency instructions, reduce the use of phone lines it may be required for conveying some important messages. Stay out of damaged buildings, Wear chapels and gloves to protect against shattered glass and debris. Stay away from beaches and water front areas where Tsunami could strike, even long after the shaking has stopped. Have one earthquake alarm fixed in your house.