USGS: This thermal map shows the fissure system and lava flows as of 6 am on Thursday, June 21. The fountain at Fissure 8 remains active, with the lava flow entering the ocean at Kapoho. Very small, short flows have been active near the Fissure 6 and Fissure 16/18 area. The black and white area is the extent of the thermal map. Temperature in the thermal image is displayed as gray-scale values, with the brightest pixels indicating the hottest areas. The thermal map was constructed by stitching many overlapping oblique thermal images collected by a handheld thermal camera during a helicopter overflight of the flow field. The base is a copyrighted color satellite image (used with permission) provided by Digital Globe

Kilauea Eruption Update

The eruption in the lower East Rift Zone continues with little change, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported this morning. At 8:54 a.m. HST, scientists said:

Lava fountains from the Fissure 8 spatter cone continue to flow in the established channel to the Kapoho coastline. A dominant ocean entry on the south edge of the flow front is producing a large laze plume. Upslope, minor overflows from the channel occur periodically, but are short-lived and do not extend beyond the current flow field. Fissure 6 is no longer active. Fissures 16 displayed incandescence and weak lava fountain was observed at Fissure 22 by this morning’s overflight crew.

At the summit, seismicity remained elevated overnight, “reaching over 40 earthquakes per hour at one point,” USGS HVO said. “Inward slumping of the rim and walls of Halemaʻumaʻu continues in response to ongoing subsidence at the summit.”

Police Arrest In Leilani Estates

Hawaii County Police issued this media release on Thursday concerning an arrest made in a restricted area, as they continue to vigorously enforce Lava Restrictions in an effort to protect the public. From police:

Hawaiʻi Island Police have arrested a female within the Leilani Estates subdivision after it was discovered that she had unlawfully taken up residence in an unfinished house under construction on Alapai Street. On Thursday morning, (June 21), a homeowner contacted police after encountering the unknown female on her property with indications that unauthorized persons had frequented that location in the past.

Police arrived and located a 36-year-old female, Jami Leonard, (listing no permanent address), within the structure which was located within a County designated zone declared for “residents only.” Leonard was arrested and charged with one (1) count of Criminal Trespass 1 and one (1) count of Loitering and Refusal to Evacuate. Total bail was set at $750.00, and she remains at the Detention Center in Hilo awaiting her court appearance.

Man Reported Missing In Evacuation Area

Police also reported Thursday that they are looking for a man who entered the lava-inundated Kapoho area and has not been heard from since. Police say:

The missing person is identified as 48-year-old Mark Lawrence Kramer, a resident of the Puna district. Kramer is described as a 5-feet-9-inches, 160 pounds, medium build with wavy shoulder-length hair.

A report was received on Tuesday, (June 19), that Kramer had gone into the evacuated Kapoho area the day prior, (June 18), circumventing blockades on Highway 137 with the intent of resupplying an acquaintance who had remained within the evacuation zone. It was reported that his last contact was during a phone call in which he related he was lost on a hardened lava flow, communications ended when his battery died.

It was reported that Kramer never reached the residence within the evacuated area and had not been heard from since. Hawaiʻi Fire Department has conducted an overflight of the area with negative results.

Mark Kramer also has an outstanding warrant of arrest which is pending service.

Anyone who may have information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Police Departments non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Wendall Carter of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2383 or Wendall.Carter@hawaiicounty.gov.

“Police remind the public that evacuated lava zones remain dangerous with many contributing hazards,” the media release added. “Roadblocks and barricades have been established for public safety and should not be circumvented.”

FAQ: Federal Assistance & Disaster Recovery Centers

The County of Hawaii shared these “Frequently Asked Questions” on Thursday:

Q: Who should apply for federal assistance?
Homeowners, renters, private nonprofits, and business owners in Hawai’i County who sustained damage to their homes, vehicles, personal property, business or its inventory as a result of the Kilauea volcanic eruptions and earthquakes may apply for federal assistance.

They can do so the following ways:

• At the Disaster Recovery Center in the Kea‘au High School Gymnasium, 16-725 Kea‘au-Pahoa Road
• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• By Phone 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Multilingual operators are available. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Disaster Recovery Centers are staffed with representatives from Hawai’i County Civil Defense Agency, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Survivors can meet one-to-one with specialists in disaster recovery.

Q: Why should I visit a DRC?
At a DRC, applicants can:

• Find answers to questions about the application process or get help making the initial registration;
• Check the status of an application, update personal contact information, or give insurance information to FEMA assistance specialists;
• Find out what to do if applications are found ineligible for FEMA assistance;
• Learn the information FEMA needs to process an individual’s claim;
• Speak to U.S. Small Business Administration customer service representatives about low-interest disaster loans for businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters;
• Get help completing and submitting SBA disaster loan applications.

All centers are accessible and equipped with equipment to accommodate disaster survivors who have access and/or functional needs.

Q: What types of assistance are available?
Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, destroyed home replacement, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses; medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, and other serious disaster-related expenses, including childcare.

Q: I have registered for assistance. What happens next?
If your home or its contents are damaged or destroyed and you are uninsured or underinsured, a FEMA inspector may contact you within 10 days after you apply to schedule a time to meet with you to verify damages. All inspectors carry photo ID that shows they are affiliated with the U.S. government.

If your home was destroyed or is not accessible, FEMA will work with you to examine your home through historic GIS imagery in order to assess the damage.

About 10 days after the inspection FEMA will determine if you qualify for assistance. If you qualify, FEMA will send you a check by mail or deposit it in your bank account. FEMA will also send you a letter describing how you are to use the funds.

Other agencies may require additional verifications for their disaster assistance programs.

Q: What will FEMA accept as proof that I occupied my home?
FEMA accepts many documents as proof of occupancy, a utility bill, credit card bills or other first class mail sent to you and showing the damaged property as your address, a pay stub, or a current driver’s license.

FEMA is working closely with local agencies and officials to verify eligibility of nontraditional housing occupants.

Q: What do I do with the SBA loan application?
If you are contacted by the SBA regarding a disaster loan application, you should complete and return the application to be considered for a low-interest loan, as well as other types of federal assistance. These loans are the major source of recovery funding.

There is no obligation to accept a loan, if one is offered. If SBA finds that you do not qualify for a disaster loan, you may be referred back to FEMA for possible other assistance.

Q: Do I have to repay the money from FEMA?
FEMA assistance does not have to be repaid and is not taxable income. It has no effect on Social Security, Medicaid or other safety net programs.

Q: If I do not receive enough money to meet all my needs, what do I do?
Most disaster aid programs are intended to meet only essential needs and are not intended to cover all your losses. Some people may qualify for assistance from more than one program, so you may be eligible for additional help from another agency.

Q: Will FEMA pay for my food loss?
No. Food loss is not covered by the FEMA program. If you have an emergency need for a meal, contact your local Red Cross Chapter. Voluntary organizations at the DRC may be able to help you with food needs.

Q: Will FEMA help pay my utility bills?
No. FEMA is not authorized to make such payments. However, local charitable organizations may be able to help for a short period. We suggest you contact the Red Cross or your local United Way office for a referral to the appropriate agency in your location.

Q: I’m self-employed and out of work. Do I qualify for disaster unemployment assistance?
Disaster Unemployment Assistance, funded by FEMA and administered by the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, provides benefits for workers who would not normally qualify for unemployment compensation, including farmers, farm workers and those who are self-employed.