Photo and Video Chronology — December 30, 2024 — Kīlauea summit eruption continues
Maintenance of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's instrumental monitoring network is an ever-ongoing process, but it is especially important during eruptions. Here, two scientists perform repairs on a gas monitoring station located just west of Kaluapele—Kīlauea's summit caldera—on Saturday, December 28, 2024. An upward-looking spectrometer measures the amount of sulfur dioxide (SO2) passing over the station, and when combined with data from other similar instruments located downwind of the ongoing eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an approximate SO2 emission rate can be calculated. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.
One Week Left for Floridians to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricanes Milton and Helene
One Week Left for Floridians to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricanes Milton and Helene TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Floridians who sustained loss from Hurricanes Milton or Helene have one week remaining to apply for federal assistance. The deadline is Jan. 7, 2025. If you applied for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Helene and have additional damage from Hurricane Milton, you will need to apply separately for Milton and provide the dates of your most recent damage. Homeowners and renters are encouraged to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA App. You may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362. Lines are open
Photo and Video Chronology — December 27, 2024 — Kīlauea summit eruption continues
Lava fountains reached heights of up to 80 meters (262 feet) high during the December 23-25, 2024, Kīlauea summit eruption and tephra was deposited to the south across the old Crater Rim Drive (a closed part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park). In this photo, taken around 10 a.m. HST on December 27, 2024, during a USGS Hawiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight, the medium-brown colored material draping the landscape to the south of the crater rim is the tephra from this eruption. It completely covered portions of Crater Rim Drive and is being more reworked by the wind with each passing
FEMA Urges West Virginians to Protect Your Identity and Stay Informed
FEMA Urges West Virginians to Protect Your Identity and Stay Informed CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After a natural disaster, it is important to protect your identity against fraud and identity theft. In some cases, criminals may try to get information by pretending to be disaster workers. Scam artists may try to apply for FEMA assistance using names, addresses and Social Security numbers they have stolen from people affected by a disaster. Protect your identity and stay informed by doing these easy things: Federal and local disaster workers do not solicit or accept money. Don’t trust anyone who offers financial or contracting help and then asks
Photo and Video Chronology — December 25, 2024 — Kīlauea summit eruption pauses
Lava began draining back into the vent at 11:00 a.m. on December 25, at nearly the same time that summit tiltmeters began recording a change from deflation to inflation. Seismic tremor also decreased markedly at the same time. The pattern was similar but more abrupt than the onset of the pause on Monday, December 23, that occurred between 3 and 4 p.m. Episode 2 lasted a little over 24 hours, which is about twice the duration of the first eruptive episode. Prior summit eruptions have lasted days to weeks and there is a high probability that this eruption will resume
Photo and Video Chronology — December 24, 2024 — Kīlauea summit eruption resumes
The eruption at Kīlauea volcano that began yesterday, December 23, slowed starting around 3 p.m. HST yesterday. The eruption paused through the night and reactivated this morning, December 24, at several of the vents along the southwest of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor. Christmas Eve Kīlauea Eruption Observations The eruption at Kīlauea volcano that began yesterday, December 23, slowed starting around 3 p.m. HST yesterday. The eruption paused through the night and reactivated this morning at several of the vents along the southwest of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor. Eruptive activity remains confined to Halemaʻumaʻu and the downdropped block within the caldera and may fluctuate in
Photo and Video Chronology — December 23, 2024 — New Kīlauea summit eruption
This video, taken from the west rim of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera), in the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, shows the new eruption that started this morning at 2:20 a.m. HST. At approximately 4:30 a.m. HST, the lava fountains were reaching up to 80 meters (260 feet) and by 5:30 a.m., lava covered an area of approximately 400 acres on the caldera floor. Increased volcanic gas emissions downwind, within the closed area, require USGS field staff to use gas masks. USGS video by D. Downs. Webcams capture eruption onset The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory maintains a network of webcameras
Two Weeks Left for Floridians to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricanes Milton and Helene
Two Weeks Left for Floridians to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricanes Milton and Helene TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Floridians who sustained loss from Hurricanes Milton and/or Helene have two weeks remaining to apply for federal assistance. The deadline is Jan. 7, 2025. If you applied for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Helene and have additional damage from Hurricane Milton, you will need to apply separately for Milton and provide the dates of your most recent damage. Homeowners and renters are encouraged to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA App. You may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362. Lines are
FLIGHT ADVISORY – TFR ALERT – Counting and Certification of Electoral Votes – Washington, D.C.
FLIGHT ADVISORY – National Special Security Event Counting and Certification of Electoral Votes Washington, D.C. January 6, 2025 Expect increased security restrictions for the DC SFRA and DC FRZ airspace by NOTAM no later than January 1, 2025 The entire flight advisory may be accessed and downloaded at the following address: https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2024/Dec/CCEV_Flight_Advisory_Final.pdf Pilots are advised to check NOTAMs frequently for possible changes prior to operations in the area.
Volcano Watch — The U.S. Geological Survey’s review process: checking and verifying our information
Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. Today's article is by Natalia Deligne, a geologist at HVO. Examples of information that the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory provides, including data of current activity, scientific publications, maps, and summaries (such as fact-sheets), and eruption response information. All have been part of the USGS review process. We start with HVO’s volcano and earthquake monitoring network, scientific research, and other techniques, such as field work, lab work, and other analyses. These form the basis of science-based information we provide through briefings