Visitor Emergency Operations Center – Hawaii Volcanos National Park 

A law enforcement officer from the National Parks Service at Hawaii Volcanos National Park gave us a really informational talk about some of his daily tasks he does dealing with visitors and his staff. Because this National Park is unique in its large size, amount of sulfur dioxide emitted into the air, and dangers of lava, officers here face a challenging job. Educational videos are played on loop in the visitor center and signage is posted around dangerous areas to stress the necessity for safety. In other parks like that on the Channel Islands, if a trail hiker were to go off trail, they could slip or fall or even damage the natural world that is there but Hawaii Volcanos faces a larger potential in inhalation of toxic gases from the volcano, moving lava, and possible eruptions.