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Lava Hazard Zones

Lava Zones

It is important to remember that the following map and legend is a historical analysis of past volcanic activity and not a prediction of future threat.

Lava flow and activity is not a threat to life. It is however a threat to property that is covered under most standard home owners insurance policies.

Living near the California fault zone, the central U. S. flood plane, the Midwest tornado alley, or the east coast hurricane belt, would all put you at far greater risk than living in volcanic hazard zone 1.

For more information about Hawaii Volcanoes visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Web Site.

Zone Percentage of area covered by lava since 1800 Percentage of area covered by lava in last 750 years Explanation
Zone 1 greater than 25% greater than 65% Includes the summits and rift zones of Kilauea and Mauna Loa where vents have been repeatedly active in historic times.
Zone 2 15-20% 25-75% Areas adjacent ot and downslope of active rift zones.
Zone 3 1-5% 15-75% Areas gradationally less hazardous than Zone 2 because of greater distance from recently active vents and/or because the topography makes it less likely that flows will cover these areas.
Zone 4 about 5% less than 15% Includes all of Huallalai, where the frequency of eruptions is lower than on Kilauea nad Mauna Loa. Flows typically cover large areas.
Zone 5 none about 50% Areas currently protected from lava flows by the topography of the volcano.
Zone 6 none very little 20% of this area covered by lava 3,500-5,000 years ago.
Zone 7 none none Only a few percent of this area covered in the past 10,000 years.
Zone 9 none none No eruption in this area for the past 60,000 years.