AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

EDM Monday Briefing: Spewing Lava Destroys Homes as Kilauea Volcano Continues to Erupt

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Emergency and disaster management briefing for May 7, 2018: Spewing lava and new fissures add to the destruction from the erupting Kilauea Volcano, a swarm of earthquakes struck El Salvador Sunday causing land and rock slides and destroying homes, residents in western Montana are on alert as floodwaters rapidly rise, over 36,000 pounds of ground beef have been recalled by JBS USA for possible plastic contamination, the 911 call that led to a police shooting of an alleged suspect has been released by the Kettering, Ohio police department, the United Kingdom is deploying explosive detection dogs to screen cargo at its airports, an international traveler from Europe confirmed to have measles visited multiple locations in New York State, and a small earthquake struck in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday.

  1. Activity increased in conjunction with the Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island over the weekend, including the [link url=”https://gis.hawaiicounty.gov/arcgisportal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=63b5a013e3154387a6466ad51845503e” title=”opening of additional fissures in the Leilani Estates”] and the destruction of more homes and structures in the area. [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/05/06/a-very-fast-moving-situation-lava-shoots-through-hawaii-neighborhood-as-new-fissures-form/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.925eeee81cab” title=”A total of 31 structures, 26 of them homes, have now been destroyed by active lava flows from fissures”] that have opened up in the Leilani subdivision. The area has been under a mandatory evacuation order, but some residents still refuse to leave, and officials are warning citizens that [link url=”http://www.khon2.com/news/local-news/agencies-prepare-for-possible-eruption-from-kilauea-volcano/1155831630″ title=”first responders may not be able to come to the aid of individuals that refuse to evacuate”]. 

  2. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, [link url=”http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/05/06/swarm-quakes-hits-el-salvador-damaging-dozens-homes.html” title=”a swarm of earthquakes of a 4.3 magnitude or greater”], shook El Salvador beginning Sunday morning, spawning rock and lands slides across the area and over roadways. The earthquakes hit near the nation’s border with Honduras, along a coastal region, with three quakes registering between a magnitude 5.2 and 5.6. Officials in El Salvador say that [link url=”https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/swarm-quakes-hits-el-salvador-damaging-dozens-homes-54974278″ title=”nearly 200 homes suffered damaged, and at least a dozen or more were destroyed”], although there have been no reports of injuries or deaths from the quakes. 

    3. https://twitter.com/PorterMediaNews/status/993213657000660993

  3. Residents of Missoula, Montana were alerted to rising waters from melting snow pack that could [link url=”https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/western-montana-braces-highest-waters-decades-54977022″ title=”require them to evacuate their homes due to flooding”] which has already begun in low-lying areas. The Clark Fork River is expected to peak as early as Tuesday, and [link url=”https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/montana/articles/2018-05-06/flooding-forecast-in-western-montana-over-the-next-week” title=”county officials have identified over 800 residents that may need to evacuate”] on short notice. The National Weather Service (NWS) has also issued an extended flood warning for the Clark Fork above Missoula, and emergency management officials are cautioning anyone living near creeks, streams, or rivers in western Montana [link url=”https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/western-montana-braces-highest-waters-decades-54977022″ title=”to be alert for rapidly rising waters and to follow evacuation orders”].  

  4. [link url=”http://www.foxnews.com/health/2018/05/03/nearly-36000-pounds-ground-beef-recalled-due-to-hard-plastic-in-meat.html” title=”Nearly 36,000 pounds of ground beef has been recalled”] by JBS USA after the U.S. Department of Agriculture discovered it may be contaminated with hard blue plastic pieces. The beef was produced in Lenoir, North Carolina, and packaged under several labels, including, [link url=”https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2018/05/05/heres-why-35-000-pounds-raw-ground-beef-sold-kroger-recall-list/583837002/” title=”Kroger, JBS, and Laura’s Lean Beef and sent to Virginia and Indiana distribution centers to be sold in stores”]. No injuries have been reported from consumption of the beef, [link url=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-products/a20154617/ground-beef-recall-may-2018/” title=”but consumers are being urged to discard, or return for a refund”], any beef packages with the establishment number “EST. 34176” that was produced on March 22.   

    5. https://twitter.com/cnnhealth/status/992058703531700225

  5. An alleged violent suspect, Mitchell Simmons, 24, that was fatally shot by a police officer in Kettering, Ohio on Saturday may have been [link url=”https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-911-call-describes-attack-man-shot-officer-54974426″ title=”violently assaulting a woman”] which prompted the use of deadly force by police. The 911 call that dispatched officers to the apartment has been released and a neighbor can be heard saying that [link url=”https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-911-call-describes-attack-man-shot-officer-54974426″ title=”a woman is screaming loudly, crying for help, and has a broken nose”]. Police were responding to the call when an officer encountered Simmons and both discharged their weapons. The suspect, Simmons, was pronounced dead at the scene. 

  6. The United Kingdom (UK) is adding another layer of protection to its airports by [link url=”https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/uk-airports-add-explosive-detection-dogs-screen-cargo-54976672″ title=”deploying explosive detecting dogs to screen cargo”]. Dogs are already in use at passenger terminals in airports across the UK, and they are used to help police identify illegal activities, prevent drug transport, and for the identification of criminals. The new dogs have had at least 12 months of training in explosive detection, and [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/uk-airports-to-add-explosive-detection-dogs-to-screen-cargo/2018/05/06/f23b23ba-5181-11e8-a6d4-ca1d035642ce_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.7f7702818a77″ title=”will be based in airport cargo sheds to screen large amounts of cargo”], further bolstering already rigorous security measures. 

  7. The New York State Department of Health is cautioning individuals about [link url=”https://www.medicaldaily.com/measles-symptoms-risk-factors-possible-exposure-reported-western-new-york-423955″ title=”an international traveler from Europe that has been confirmed to have the measles”] that visited several locations around the state on April 30, May 1 and 2. Health officials stated that [link url=”https://www.stargazette.com/story/news/local/2018/05/07/measles-new-york-exposure-chemung-county/585754002/” title=”anyone eating at the Old Country Buffet in Big Flats, Chemung County between the hours of 1pm and 4pm”], is likely to have been exposed to the measles. Other locations the individual visited also include the Ontario Travel Plaza on I-90, the Sheraton in Niagara Falls, and the Niagara Falls Urgent Care, and health officials caution anyone exposed and not immune to the disease should [link url=”https://www.stargazette.com/story/news/local/2018/05/07/measles-new-york-exposure-chemung-county/585754002/” title=”monitor themselves for symptoms”] which can appear anywhere from 10 to 12 days after exposure.   

  8. A small earthquake struck in the Gulf of Mexico around noon on Sunday. The [link url=”https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us1000dzed#executive” title=”U.S. Geological Survey”] stated that the earthquake was a 4.6 magnitude, although according to the National Weather Service, there was never any threat of a tsunami. The quake struck at a depth of about 6 miles and was centered 166 miles southeast of New Orleans, with [link url=”http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_5d5a4f76-5156-11e8-b708-0b7995c3861f.html” title=”very light shaking reportedly felt in some parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Texas”].  

    9. https://twitter.com/mexicostar/status/993481365688643585

Kimberly Arsenault serves as an intern at the Cleveland/Bradley County Emergency Management Agency where she works on plan revisions and special projects. Previously, Kimberly spent 15 years in commercial and business aviation. Her positions included station manager at the former Midwest Express Airlines, as well as corporate flight attendant, inflight manager, and charter flight coordinator. Kimberly currently holds a master's degree in emergency and disaster management from American Public University.

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