Preparing for
Volcanic Eruption
Volcanic eruptions
can hurl hot rocks for at least 20 miles. Floods, airborne ash,
or noxious fumes can spread 100 miles or more. If you live near
a known volcano, active or dormant, be ready to evacuate at a
moment's notice.
BEFORE
Learn about your
community warning systems.
Be prepared for
these disasters that can be spawned by volcanoes.
- Earthquakes
- Flash floods
- Landslides
and mudflows
- Thunderstorms
- Tsunamis
Make evacuation
plans.
You want to get to high ground away from the eruption.
Plan a route out and have a backup route in mind.
Develop an emergency
communication plan.
In case family members are separated from one another during
a volcanic eruption (a real possibility during the day
when adults are at work and children are at school), have
a plan for getting back together.
Ask an out-of-state
relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a
disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure
everyone knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact
person.
Have disaster
supplies on hand.
- Flashlight
and extra batteries
- Portable,
battery-operated radio and extra batteries
- First aid
kit and manual
- Emergency
food and water
- Nonelectric
can opener
- Essential
medicinesCash and credit cards
- Sturdy shoes
Get a pair of
goggles and a throw-away breathing mask for each member of the
household.
Contact your
local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter
for more information on volcanoes.
Evacuation
Although it may
seem safe to stay at home and wait out an eruption, doing so
could be very dangerous. The rock debris from a volcano can break
windows and set buildings on fire. Stay safe. Follow authorities'
instructions and leave the area before the disaster begins.
DURING
Follow the evacuation
order issued by authorities.
Avoid areas downwind
of the volcano.
If caught indoors:
- Close all
windows, doors, and dampers.
- Put all machinery
inside a garage or barn.
- Bring animals
and livestock into closed shelters.
If trapped outdoors:
- Seek shelter
indoors.
- If caught
in a rockfall, roll into a ball to protect head.
- Avoid low-lying
area where poisonous gases can collect and flash floods can
be most dangerous.
- If caught
near a stream, beware of mudflows.
Protect yourself:
- Wear long
sleeved shirts and pants.
- Use goggles
to protect eyes.
- Use a dust-mask
or hold a damp cloth over face to help breathing.
- Keep car or
truck engines off.
Stay out of the
area.
A lateral blast of a volcano can travel many miles from
the mountain. Trying to watch an erupting volcano is a
deadly idea.
Mudflows
Mudflows are
powerful "rivers" of mud that can move faster than people can
walk or run. Mudflows occur when rain falls through ash-carrying
clouds or when rivers are damed during an eruption. They are
most dangerous close to stream channels. When you approach a
bridge, first look upstream. If a mudflow is approaching or moving
beneath the bridge, do not cross the bridge. The power of the
mudflow can destroy a bridge very quickly.
AFTER
Listen to a battery-powered
radio or television for the latest emergency information.
Stay away from
volcanic ashfall.
When outside:
- Cover your
mouth and nose. A number of victims of the Mount St. Helens
volcano died from inhaling ash.
- Wear goggles
to protect your eyes.
- Keep skin
covered to avoid irritation or burns.
If you have a
respiratory ailment, avoid contact with any amount of ash. Stay
indoors until local health officials advise it is safe to go
outside.
Avoid driving
in heavy ashfall.
Driving will stir up more ash that can clog engines and
stall vehicles.
Clear roofs of
ashfall.
Ashfall is very heavy and can cause buildings to collapse.
Remember to help
your neighbors who may require special assistance--infants, elderly
people, and people with disabilities.
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