Reducing future risk during the 2018 Kilauea eruption: a new model for enabling subject matter expert-decision maker engagement
Abstract
Crises can catalyze new partnerships and collaborations that aim to react to, and deal with rapidly changing environments. Often these new partnerships and associated knowledge production occur on an ad hoc basis as disparate groups are thrown together by crisis. In this paper, we offer an example of a semi-structured method of knowledge co-production in response to the 2018 eruption of Kilauea on the island of Hawai'i. From July 17-19, 2018, the Department of the Interior's (DOI) Strategic Sciences Group (SSG) convened a team of 12 experts to examine the short- and long-term social, economic, and environmental cascading consequences of the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Scenarios focused on impacts at the summit of Kilauea caldera, the Lower East Rift Zone, and the presence of vog. The team included experts in anthropology, ecology, economics, geography, public health, risk communication, social and behavioral sciences, structural engineering, urban planning, volcanic gas geochemistry, and volcanology. One of the team members was also a victim of the eruption, having lost her home in Leilani Estates to the lava. The team members volunteered their time, and came from academic, federal and private institutions. This paper will outline the methods used to quickly assemble a team of experts, identify cascading consequences of the Kilauea eruption and potential actions that could be taken to mitigate negative effects of this eruption or future crises. We will also discuss new methods used to engage with stakeholders in the affected area and share findings and insights on how the information was used to support response.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFM.V43J0291P
- Keywords:
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- 8499 General or miscellaneous;
- VOLCANOLOGY