volcanic eruption preparedness essay

Soufriere Hills Volcano overlooks an abandoned town near Montserrat in the West Indies. The regular eruptions of Soufriere Hills frequently force residents in surrounding villages to abandon their homes for safer ground, rendering much of Montserrat uninhabitable.

• ENVIRONMENT

Volcano Safety Tips

These fiery features can be as dangerous as they are mesmerizing. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you live near or plan to visit a volcano.

Millions of people around the world live near one of the roughly 1,500 active volcanoes on Earth —from Italy’s Campi Flegrei to Indonesia’s Merapi to the United States’ Mount Rainier. While that may seem crazy to some, there's a myriad of reasons why people call these volcanic landscapes home .

Fertile soils frequently blanket their slopes thanks to the slow breakdown of ancient volcanic rocks, which releases a host of nutrients vital for healthy crops and vineyards that produce flavorful grapes. Volcanoes also have deep roots in the history of civilizations, leading to their starring role in the spirituality and mythos of many cultures. And they spark the imagination, drawing numerous visitors to their flanks who feed a profitable industry in tourism. ( See dramatic photos of volcanoes around the world .)

Yet their fiery fits can be as dangerous as they are mesmerizing, sending rivers of molten rock and avalanches of searing ash and gas barreling down their sloping sides. So if you live near one of these mighty features—or plan to visit one on your next trip—here’s some hazards to be aware of and steps you can take to stay safe during an eruption.

What are some eruption hazards?

Volcanoes pose an ever-shifting array of dangers, and each volcano is different . Some explode with fearsome force, like the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens . Other volcanoes send streams of lava flowing down their flanks, like what happened during Kilauea’s 2018 eruption . And these dangers can spark many other issues including fires and flows of debris . The following are some of the many hazards volcanoes can pose:

Lava flows: These rivers of molten rock are extremely hot. While their exact temperature depends on their chemistry , lava flows can exceed a searing 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt copper. The temperature and chemistry also play into the lava’s viscosity, which controls how fast it flows. While some can be readily out-walked, others rush surprisingly quickly. When Kilauea erupted in 2018, it was oozing lava near the vent at a rate of 15 miles per hour , faster than the vast majority of people can run.

Volcanic projectiles: These bits of searing hot rock are flung from active vents or volcanic craters. If they’re larger than 2.5 inches across, they’re dubbed lava bombs. While claims of refrigerator-sized lava bombs during Kilauea’s 2018 eruption were overblown, these blazing blocks can be up to several yards across. And at sizzling hot temperatures, even small volcanic projectiles can be dangerous, setting fires, breaking bones, and melting human flesh .

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Pyroclastic flows: Blistering-hot avalanches of gasses, rocks, and volcanic ash can barrel down a volcano’s slopes, burying structures, sparking fires, and destroying everything in their path. They are extremely speedy, with some rushing as fast as 450 miles per hour. Pyroclastic flows can even travel uphill or cross water . Volcanoes that produce such flows are extremely dangerous. For example, pyroclastic flows abounded during the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvious in 79 A.D. that devastated the city of Pompeii, Italy. ( Read about how Vesuvious may have killed its victims. )

Lahars or debris flows: This term describes a hot or cold slurry of water and rock fragments that rushes down a volcano’s slopes like “rivers of concrete,” according to the USGS . These often follow valleys or river channels and can move startlingly fast. While a lahar may start small, it can grow as it travels, carrying along any debris it encounters.

Toxic gases: Volcanoes also release toxic gasses , such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen chloride. Some of these, like sulfur dioxide, are extremely corrosive and can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory systems of hapless onlookers. In rare cases, the gasses can be deadly: A surge of carbon dioxide poured out of Africa’s volcanic Lake Nyos in 1986, sweeping a nearby village and suffocating hundreds of people and cattle.

Volcanic ash: Unlike the fluffy bits that linger after a camp fire, volcanic ash is made up of tiny fragments of rock and shards of glass. It’s damaging to lungs and can form a hefty blanket over nearby towns—even collapsing roofs of some structures. Ash can also shoot miles high into the sky and rain down for many miles around, posing a hazard for people quite far from an active volcano. ( Learn about how lightning can help signal the start of potentially dangerous eruptions of farflung volcanoes .)

What to do before an eruption?

Unlike earthquakes, volcanoes rouse from sleep with some notice—shaking the ground, bulging their flanks, or shifting the gases wafting from their craters and vents. And for many volcanoes near populations, scientists closely watch their every move , which allows them to better understand when they might burst to life.

So if you live near a volcano, or plan to visit one, familiarize yourself with the local monitoring agencies . Understand where you can safely tromp and where you need to steer clear , regions known as exclusion zones. It’s also important to look up evacuation routes and hazards specific to your location.

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Some places offer regular updates of volcanic activity. For example, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Volcano Notification Service emails information about monitored volcanoes in the United States, which boasts more than 10 percent of the planet’s active or potentially active volcanoes .

Another vital preparation step is assembling an emergency kit that includes supplies like food, water, respiratory protection, eye protection, and a battery-powered radio. When preparing your kit, consider each member of your family and their needs— and don’t forget your pets . The Department of Homeland Security has a detailed guide about putting together a kit for many different contingencies.

Even if you are just visiting a volcano for a day, make sure you are traveling with appropriate footwear, first aid supplies, and plenty of water.

“Volcanoes can change very quickly and eruptions can begin with little to no warning,” cautions volcanologist Janine Krippner in a blog entry about important safety measures to take when visiting volcanoes .

What to do during an eruption?

During a disaster, be wary of misinformation and try to stick to official sources , many of which communicate dangers through social media. For example, Krippner has assembled a handy list of official volcano agency Twitter accounts. Follow instructions from authorities during an eruption, and evacuate if you are within areas told to do so.

If you are instructed to remain in your home, close all windows, doors, and other points of entry for ash. Bring pets inside and move livestock to shelters, when at all possible. Avoid running air conditioning systems, fans, and heaters during or immediately after an eruption, since they can pull in volcanic gasses and ash . Also, fill large containers, sinks, and bathtubs with clean water since eruptions can cause disruptions or contamination of water supplies.

If an evacuation seems on the horizon, the Centers for Disease Control recommends gathering additional supplies to keep in your vehicle, which should include flares, maps, basic tools, sleeping bags, and a fire extinguisher. When packing personal items, take only the essentials. And don’t forget including at least a week’s supply of any required prescription medications. If you don’t own a vehicle, contact neighbors or others nearby who might be able to provide a ride in case you and your family need to leave.

If you must be outside, try to use a mask whenever possible. The CDC recommends the use of N-95 respirators , which can be purchased in a hardware store. While a dusk mask can be used as a last resort, the CDC cautions that they only should be used outdoors for short periods of time when ash is falling. Other ash protection includes long-sleeved shirts and long pants as well as goggles. Be aware of your surroundings, and be extra cautious if you are in low-lying regions or near river valleys as those commonly funnel debris flows.

What to do after an eruption?

Heed authorities’ instructions for when it’s safe to go back outside or return to your home. Alert family and friends of your status via text message or using the Red Cross’ Safe and Well website . Avoid making phone calls unless it is an emergency as telecommunications are commonly very busy during and after disasters.

When it is safe to return home, check the structure and utilities for damage. The Red Cross has helpful guides that detail what to look for when returning after disaster. Also, document any damage in photos for insurance purposes .

Don respiratory protection when cleaning up ash indoors or out. The Red Cross suggests removing ash from your roof as soon as possible since it is heavy and cause structural collapse—a problem only made worse with rainfall. However, be extra careful with ash removal if you have breathing problems. Also, if you must climb on your roof, watch out, since ash can also be slippery and cause falls.

Such powerful displays of Earth’s fearsome force can be frightening, but with some preparation and close following of official instructions, you can reduce the risk of being blindsided by a blast.

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Community and Authority Response to Volcanic Eruptions Essay

Introduction, location of buildings, reluctance to evacuation, economy preference, distrust with investigations conducted and public ignorance, works cited.

Volcanic eruption is one of the natural phenomena that pose a lot of threats to the public. However, the eruption may at times be beneficial to the country and community living around as it may attract tourists. For many years, there have been numerous fatalities resulting from volcanic eruptions. Those who escape the death, have suffered other ailments due to being exposed to volcanic ash and other toxic gases that accompany volcanic eruptions. With the world having the capacity to predict and determine the volcanic activity of most mountains, there have always been early warnings to people and the government for a potential volcanic eruption.

This is vital to help society, as well as the government, prepare for ways to evacuate people from the area before the actual eruption takes place. However, despite there being early warnings of volcanic eruptions, the community living in these areas has not taken the dangers of the eruption seriously. The authorities in these areas have also been found to be reluctant in addressing the matter. This is concerning the structure and location of buildings, government and society response to crisis after eruptions, and others.

The dangers of volcanic eruptions call for people to locate their buildings away from mountains that are identified as volcanic active. The fact that it is difficult to predict the exact date and time that the mountain is likely to explode, underlines the need for people to situate their buildings away from the mountain to avoid being trapped. This has not been the case in most countries where there are mountains identified as volcanic active.

People have gone to an extent of building living houses at the foot of these mountains. This has predisposed them to the dangers of being trapped in case of volcanic eruptions. Despite the scientists warning of signs of volcanic activity in these mountains as well as the dangers of the eruption, people have not taken heed to protect themselves (Alexander 67). The government and other authorities in these regions have also taken no measures to ensure that people are safe. With most people daring to take risks to enrich themselves, they are likely to construct and operate businesses in any region. This calls for the government to come up with regulations to curb this habit.

Because of the dangers of volcanic eruption, the government needs to come up with regulations governing people on how and where to construct their buildings in areas identified to be volcanic active. This has not been the case. People have been left to construct their buildings whenever they feel to best suit them making them vulnerable to these dangers. The ignorance from the society, as well as other authorities responsible for responding to emergencies, led to the loss of life during the Mt. St. Helen eruption.

The mountain having been identified as volcanic activity, required the agents responsible for responding to such catastrophes to be always prepared to avoid cases of damages resulting due to poor response after the eruption. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Department of Emergency Services (DES) ought to ensure that it was always prepared to respond to any tragedy (Chester, Angus, Wetton & Wetton pp. 168-196). This is by ensuring that they always have the required resources, funds, and expertise needed to deal with a volcanic eruption. Ignorance from the management and government at large led to these departments being caught unprepared after the eruption.

Despite the public and government learning serious lessons from the eruption, still, some of the leaders in the United States government seem to take the issue lightly. This is evident by remarks from Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal who argued that there was no need for the government to invest heavily in monitoring volcanic activities in Alaska. The sentiments have come at a time when Redoubt Mountain which is one of the volcanic active mountains is expected to erupt. Despite the economic hardships and fatalities that resulted from volcanic eruptions in the country twenty years ago, Jindal still seems not to take the dangers of volcanic eruptions seriously.

Before and after a volcanic eruption, people are requested to evacuate the affected area in fear of further eruption and health hazards posed by gases emitted during the eruption. Most of the gasses are said to be corrosive and they corrode eye tissues. In addition, some gases emitted during a volcanic eruption are poisonous if inhaled. To avoid these problems, it calls for all people to evacuate the affected areas. These gases and ash may remain in the air for a long period.

Going back to the affected area a few days after evacuation may not help in preventing some of the health hazards caused by eruptions. Even after people being informed about the health implications of volcanic eruptions, they have been reluctant to evacuate the affected areas. It has led to the government going to an extent of applying force to make people leave the area. After leaving, people have been found to take limited time before going back to their homes (Chester pp. 319-328). This has been the case even in the recent eruption that occurred in Iceland. Poor conditions in refuge places have been attributed to the desire by people to go back to their homes after evacuation.

The authorities have not been serious in considering other dangers accompanied by volcanic eruption such as respiratory problems, social disruption, and disease outbreaks. As a result, no measures are usually taken to ensure the well-being of the evacuated persons leading to most of them going back to their homes shortly after the evacuation exercise.

Volcanic eruptions lead to most of the economic activities in the affected areas being brought to a halt. No trade goes on with people fearing further eruptions. This affects the country and the society adversely especially those that rely on trade. After the volcanic eruption in Iceland, flights that use that route were suspended. This led to trade between different countries coming to a stop. People and countries complained of their products expiring due to them being unable to access the market. With people wishing to enrich themselves, they have ignored health hazards resulting from the eruption and went on with their trade.

For instance, after airline companies in Iceland and other places realized the loss they were incurring they called the suspension and resumed their activities event without being guaranteed that it was safe for them to embark on their normal activities (Forsloff 432). Some pilots even undermined the implications of flying planes across the cloud of ash in the air and argued that they could fly below the cloud and still go on with their business as usual.

Despite people being warned that the mountain may have further eruptions in the future, people have taken the opportunity to visit them and take photos to sell later. Event after people being evacuated, they have all returned b to their homes and are making visits to the site. There have been warnings that toxic fumes that were emitted in the air are still in there and inhaling them would lead to respiratory problems.

However, people have not taken the issue seriously. They are making frequent visits to the site even without ensuring that they have worn protective gears and carried artificial oxygen to ensure that they do not inhale fluorine, sulfur, and carbon dioxide gas that is still in the air (Lavigne et. al pp. 273-287). There is a presence of lava flow in Hrunagil but this is not deterring people from visiting the mountain. The fact that it is long since a volcanic eruption occurred in the region has made most of the people take the initiative of visiting the site without putting into consideration the dangers they expose themselves to.

Over time, there have been rumors of certain mountains facing volcanic eruptions only to find that they do not occur. This has led to the public not being serious with the given results. People have been found to evacuate their homes and come back a few days later once they realize that the mountain is taking a long to erupt. For instance, there were rumors that Mt. Kelud in Indonesia showed signs of erupting (Masel-Walters, Wilkins & Walters 129).

The signs were very precise with water in crates lakes fount on top of the mountain becoming extremely hot. There was the presence of gases on top of the mountain as well as the occurrence of several earthquakes. People even claimed that the top of the mountain had started changing its shape in preparedness for eruption. After people were informed of the danger, they were reluctant to evacuate the place. As a measure by the government to avoid fatalities and other damages in case of an eruption, troops were sent to the scene to forcefully evacuate the residents. However, with time, the eruption failed to occur leading to the government declaring that the place was safe for people to go back home.

Currently, the mountain is not being monitored due to ignorant from the government and the society around the area (Tobin & Whiteford 28-48). The fact that it is difficult to predict the exact time when the mountain will erupt poses the society in great danger of being caught unawares.

Despite Indonesian mountains being known for volcanic eruptions, people have gone to an extent of living on their slopes in a bid to use their fertile volcanic soils in planting. Even after being warned that the mountain is likely to erupt, these people are found to be unwilling to leave their crops. Some people in the country have survived various volcanic eruptions. To them, they consider themselves as capable of protecting themselves from the dangers of a volcanic eruption.

These people are never willing to evacuate from the mountain till the actual eruption takes place (Wallace-Hadrill pp. 311-337). To mitigate damages resulting from a volcanic eruption, the Indonesian government has been found to actively draw off water from crater lakes on top of the mountain as well as dig tunnels around the mountain to divert lava flow. They have overlooked the fact that the eruption may lead to the emission of hot ashes and other toxic gases into the air posing a threat to the public. Their action has been used by people in the area to justify their reasons for not leaving their homes.

Another incidence that brought out the level of ignorance among the people living in volcanic-prone areas is the Pompeii eruption. Despite people having seen and warned of eruption, it caught them unprepared. People went on with their daily activities paying no attention to the mountain even after seeing smoke appearing at the top of the mountain.

Fatalities and property damage resulting from volcanic eruptions are attributed to the high level of ignorance among society and authorities on the dangers of volcanic eruptions. Despite people being warned of volcanic active mountains, they still go to an extent of building their homes on the slopes of these mountains. The government and other authorities responsible for addressing emergencies have been reluctant to equip their staff with the necessary expertise and resources.

This has led to them not effectively responding to eruption emergencies. After realizing that a certain mountain is about to erupt, society declines to take the initiative of evacuating the place. There are instances where people were forced to evacuate their homes by troops. The need by people to continue with their economic activities has led to them ignoring the dangers of eruptions. After evacuation, the society is found to go back to their homes even before they are assured that the place is secure.

Alexander, David. Confronting catastrophe: new perspectives on natural disaster . England: Terra Publishing.

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IvyPanda. (2021, December 20). Community and Authority Response to Volcanic Eruptions. https://ivypanda.com/essays/community-and-authority-response-to-volcanic-eruptions/

"Community and Authority Response to Volcanic Eruptions." IvyPanda , 20 Dec. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/community-and-authority-response-to-volcanic-eruptions/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Community and Authority Response to Volcanic Eruptions'. 20 December.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Community and Authority Response to Volcanic Eruptions." December 20, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/community-and-authority-response-to-volcanic-eruptions/.

1. IvyPanda . "Community and Authority Response to Volcanic Eruptions." December 20, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/community-and-authority-response-to-volcanic-eruptions/.

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Huge volcanic eruptions: time to prepare

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Tonga Geological Services staff making observations of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai volcano. Credit: Tonga Geological Services/ZUMA/Alamy

The massive eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai volcano this January in Tonga, in the south Pacific Ocean, was the volcanic equivalent of a ‘near miss’ asteroid whizzing by the Earth. The eruption was the largest since Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines blew in 1991, and the biggest explosion ever recorded by instruments.

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How to Prepare for a Volcanic Eruption: A Guide + Checklist

Volcanoes are extraordinary natural disasters! Due to their massive force and release of energy, however, they can be dangerous and possibly catastrophic—not just regionally, but worldwide!

Did you know that there are roughly 500 million people living in areas at risk from volcanic eruptions? About 90% of them live near the Ring of Fire where 75% of the Earth’s 850 active volcanoes are found. That’s a mouthful, huh!

It’s important to know what you’re up against if you live close to a volcano.

How do you prepare for a volcanic eruption?

In order to prepare for a volcanic eruption, you should know what your community’s hazard is. This will help you determine which other disaster risks are present in your region. After you’ve determined that, you should prepare an emergency action and evacuation plan which includes a family communication and reunification strategy. Then, put together an emergency kit that includes all the necessary supplies to survive the aftermath of the disaster, whether that’s by evacuating or sheltering in place. Finally, sign up for alerts through the NOAA Weather App and USGS Volcano Notification Service. In this article, we break down the entire volcano preparedness process so that by the end you can feel empowered to put your emergency plan into action!

[ This is a long article about becoming prepared for a volcanic eruption, so the links in the Table of Contents may help you to navigate through the page. If you don't have much time and want to dive right into the meat of this article, please click here . Don’t forget to grab your free printable checklist at the end of this guide! ]

Table of Contents

• Volcano facts

Volcano terms you should know

Current volcanic eruptions

What to expect during a volcanic eruption, mitigation of volcanic eruptions.

• Safety tips
• Emergency kit must-haves

More resources!

Volcano Facts

• There are only 20 known supervolcanoes on Earth. These volcanoes have the potential to cause extreme destruction, not just to the nearby areas, but to the world’s ecology and climate. Luckily, these types of volcanoes are estimated to erupt once every 100,000 years so we may not live to see one erupt. Or if we do, we might not survive it…

Cinder/ Scoria Cone Volcanoes : These are the most common and smallest type of volcanoes. Paricutin and Cerro Negro are cinder cones.

Shield Volcanoes : Shield volcanoes typically cause the rapid flow of liquid lava. Manua Loa and Mount Kilauea are a shield volcanoes.

Composite Volcanoes/ Stratovolcanoes : These types of volcanoes are considered to be the most destructive and dangerous due to their explosive nature. The volcano is formed by underground ducts and channels of ash, lava, and melted snow. At the time of an explosion, any of the side ducts can act as a point of release as well as the main cone at the summit. Stratovolcanoes behave a lot like a bottle of soda that has been vigorously shaken up right before opening it. Mount St. Helens and Mount Fiji are stratovolcanoes.

Caldera : A caldera is a depression that forms at the center of a volcano after a significant eruption has occurred. When the mouth of the volcano finishes erupting, it collapses slowly into itself and forms a caldera. A famous caldera is Yellowstone.

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) : Volcanoes are measured with the Volcanic Explosivity Index. The VEI is a scale that estimates what the force of a volcano’s eruption is based on the height of the cloud produced upon eruption, how long the eruption lasts, and how much ash is produced. Scientists use historical data, science, archeological evidence, and/or qualitative observations to examine this information. The scale goes from 0 (non-explosive eruptions) to 8 (supervolcanoes). The last known VEI-8 volcano happened around 26,500 years ago in New Zealand. For more information on the scale of eruptions and their rate of occurrence, check out this PDF that the USGS put together. 

Volcano advisory : The USGS issues volcano advisories when a specific volcano is showing warning signs of activity, abnormal to what has been recorded.

Volcano watch : A volcano watch is a step up from an advisory. A watch is issued when the underground volcanic activity that is recorded is changing and increasing. There is the possibility of an eruption but the hazards it poses are limited. Under a watch alert, you should begin preparing for the possibility that you may have to evacuate or shelter in place. Stay tuned to the local radio station and the NOAA Weather updates for more information.

Volcano warning : A volcano warning is a step up from a watch. A warning is issued when a major eruption is hazardous to human health and highly suspected to occur. Prepare to evacuate if told to do so. Stay tuned to the NOAA Weather Radio and your local radio for updated information.

The United States Geological Survey has a US map on their website that shows all the volcanoes and their current alerts. The map allows you to zoom in to any section and get detailed information about the volcano of your choice.

The Smithsonian Institute has a really cool page where they mention all the eruptions happening right now throughout the world. If you go to their Current Eruptions page , you can click specifically on the volcano name (to the left, highlighted in orange) and get more information about that specific volcano, including the latest reports, photos, the location on a map, and a lot more.

Volcanoes are scary and dangerous. To put your mind at ease, we gathered a list of the most common volcano questions and answered them for you here.

Like most other natural disasters, volcanoes cannot be contained and the risk of an eruption cannot be reduced nor prevented. Volcanoes are extremely powerful and can become significantly destructive. Preparedness is key to mitigating the possibility of losses and beginning the rebuilding phase of your life. The following mitigation tips should help you prepare for a volcanic eruption.

• Know your risk. Knowing if your home is in a volcano hazard zone should be the first step in your preparedness process. You can look at the USGS volcano map for more information on volcano risks specific to the United States. Also, note the indirect effects that volcanoes may pose to your community and prepare for those. As before-mentioned, these include lahars, earthquakes, wildfires, water contamination, and power outages, to name a few.  
• Prepare a family disaster plan and an emergency evacuation plan. Always include all the members of your household in this process. For an efficient evacuation to happen, it’s important to include the entire family, especially if you have young children, disabled or elderly people, and pets living with you. Your family emergency plan should include a list of “to-do’s” when you receive an alert. For instance, under a volcano watch, you may not need to evacuate, but perhaps it’s a good time to fill up your car with gas, and have your emergency kit ready to go. A volcano warning, on the other hand, may require you to evacuate quickly. If your kit is ready, then you should be on your way in no time. If you have children who attend school, determine who will pick them up in the event of an alert. How will your family members get in touch with each other and reunite if a disaster occurs when you’re at work or out of town? All of these questions need to be discussed and answered (as a family) prior to an emergency. Learn how to create a family communication and reunification plan here. As far as an evacuation plan goes, begin by establishing a home evacuation plan. Pick two or three ways to get out of your house safely and have drills every so often where everyone in the household participates. Then, determine what your community’s evacuation routes are. Learn two or three of these routes by heart. You should never rely solely on your phone’s map app during a disaster. Finally, establish shelter plans. Identify at least two places where you can safely evacuate to. This could be a relative’s house away from the main threat or closed shelters set up by a local emergency management team. If your main risk is heavy ashfall, your safest bet may be to shelter at home. This is something you need to decide in the event of a volcanic eruption.
• Make an emergency kit. Without a doubt, emergency supplies and additional help will be hard to come by during the first few days following a disaster. It’s necessary to prepare a bug-out kit for a quick and easy evacuation, but more importantly for your survival during the first 72 hours. Many times, it takes relief workers a couple of days to reach the communities affected by natural events, so you should be prepared to survive on your own until help arrives. Note that volcanic ash poses a health hazard to those who have a respiratory illness, skin sensitivity, and/or other pre-existing conditions. The USGS has information about the  respiratory difficulties that you can expect post-eruption but I also encourage you to talk to your doctor about tips on how to cope. Continue reading for a list of recommended items to have in the event of an erupting volcano.
• Take CPR and first aid courses. When preparing for any emergency, but more importantly a high-impact disaster like this one, I recommend learning basic first and CPR. If you survive the eruption (which I sincerely hope you do!) you’ll immediately become a first responder. Having the knowledge to help others in desperate need may help save someone else’s life, especially if their wounds are critical. Remember that medical responders can take a little bit of time to get to the scene, and the life you save might not be a stranger’s necessarily but it could be one of your loved ones.
• Sign up for volcano alerts. Living in the 21st century has many benefits, including the advancement of technology. With that comes the availability of early warning systems and disaster forecasting. Although technology is not perfect, it does provide us with insight that many people in centuries past didn’t have access to. With that said, some volcanoes can be predicted IF there is enough data regarding their eruption history. Volcanoes are studied independently, and the government budget does not always extend to the in-depth study of all volcanoes. Many are dormant and some may catch us by surprise. The USGS is making incredible advancements in its study of volcanic activity and early warning systems. If you live near a volcano, I recommend signing up for the free Volcano Notification Service (VNS). The USGS will send out e-mail updates about the volcanoes they’re monitoring. You can customize the alerts to your area. Find the VNS subscription page here. In combination with the VNS e-mail alert system, you should get the NOAA Weather App or tune in to local radio stations for additional disaster-related updates.
• Call your insurance company. Many homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies do not cover the damages caused by a volcano, nor the damage from earthquakes, floods, or other indirect volcano effects, as well as the cost to remove ash buildup or debris. Get in touch with your insurance agent to determine what your policy does and does not cover, and how to get coverage for the disasters your community is vulnerable to.

Volcanic eruption safety tips

What to do before a volcanic eruption:.

• Gather all your evacuation supplies in an easy-to-access location.
• Review your city’s evacuation routes and decide which one will be the safest to take.
• Fill up your car with gas.
• Charge up all your devices, and keep them fully charged.
• Stay tuned to the local news (radio, TV, or social media) and NOAA/ USGS alerts. Make sure the notification settings are turned on to alert you during nighttime as well.
• Cover ventilation openings in your home, as well as the windows and all exterior door openings. Attach plastic sheets from the inside to prevent ash from entering the house.
• Have the entire household remain together indoors. If you have farm animals, keep them enclosed in a safe location. If you have outdoor pets, bring them inside the house.

How to stay safe during a volcanic eruption :

• Determine what is safest for your situation: evacuating or sheltering in place. If evacuation orders are in place for your community, obey those orders promptly.
• Do not drive if there’s are heavy ash deposits on the roads— this can ruin your vehicle.
• Stay away from exclusion zones. The immediate danger area covers at least a 20-mile radius but it could be more depending on the type of volcano and what it spews out (i.e. acid rain, heavy ash fall, lava flows, molten rock, and/or volcanic rock). Do not go downwind of the volcano nor anywhere near dams, river valleys, or low-lying areas. Lahars will take the path of least resistance and these areas are particularly vulnerable to flash floods. Get to higher ground until the threat passes. Volcanos can produce natural hazards like sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen halides. Heavy poisonous gases, like carbon dioxide, are also released and can be found downwind and in low-lying areas. This can pose health risks and fatal circumstances.
• Use a certified dust mask when going outdoors especially but indoors too, if there is a lot of ash.
• If sheltering in place, do not run the air conditioner or heater to prevent ash and volcanic gases from entering your home.

How to recover after a volcanic eruption:

• Remove ashes from your roof with great caution and as soon as possible, especially if a rainstorm is predicted. Significant deposits of ash can become very heavy and cause structural collapse, especially when it gets wet. Getting on the roof to remove the ashes can become risky because the surface becomes too slick to walk on. Also, adding more weight by walking on it can cause the roof to cave in. Have a professional help you to prevent further property damage and physical injury.
• If you need special assistance in recovery, we recommend reaching out to organizations on the ground (i.e. American Red Cross) that have been assigned to help.

Volcanic eruption emergency kit must-haves

In order to put together a volcano survival kit, you should consider the possibility of both evacuating and sheltering in place. By determining your level of risk and local resources, you can adjust your kits as necessary. As with any natural disaster kits, you should always stockpile enough supplies to help you survive on your own for at least the first 72 hours but if possible pack for 14 days.

If you’re evacuating , remember to include:

• Vehicle kit : Think of the possibility of roadside emergencies that can occur during a time when you and thousands of other people are evacuating too. Stay safe on the road with a vehicle kit like these ones . 

If you’re sheltering in place , remember to include:

• A toilet and sanitation kit : Maintaining proper hygiene is one of the most important things in emergency preparedness, especially if the power is out and you can’t flush your toilet. Prevent the spread of disease by keeping your waste contained in a safe bucket. This toilet kit helps to seal and protect you from any pathogens that are found in human waste.

For both scenarios , remember to include:

• Personal items , including but not limited to: prescription medication, pet supplies, diapers, and feminine hygiene supplies. Every person in your household should have a personal disaster survival kit where these types of items are customized.

Print the volcano supplies checklist and safety tips below. Keep this information in your emergency kit so it's handy when you need it the most.

If volcanoes are a threat to your community, then you’re probably also at risk of other natural disasters. Find complete guides to the following:

• Power outage preparedness guide  
• Earthquake preparedness guide 
• Lahars and mudslide preparedness guide 
• Tsunami preparedness guide  

Raise awareness on volcano preparedness!

Thanks for sticking around this far! I hope you found a lot of value in this article. 🙂

Before you go, let me ask you this— do you know someone else who lives in a volcano-risk zone? If so, please spread the word and share this guide with them! It will cost you nothing and they might gain a lot from it as well!

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SOURCES USED :

The world’s 10 most devastating volcanic eruptions — Australian Geographic Supervolcano eruption mystery solved — BBC News Deep Ocean Volcanoes — NOAA Ocean Today Glossary VEI — U.S. Geological Survey The most active volcanoes in the world — Volcano Discovery Which was the costliest volcanic eruption in history? — World Economic Forum Which is the world’s largest volcano? — Volcano Discovery Do volcanoes occur in the ocean? — NOAA Alert level icons depict volcano status on interactive maps — USGS Volcano Hazards Program What was the most destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the United States? — USGS Number of People Living Near Volcanoes Growing — Los Angeles Times

Volcanic Eruptions and Their Repose, Unrest, Precursors, and Timing (2017)

Chapter: summary.

Volcanoes are a key part of the Earth system, and open a window into the inner workings of the planet. More than a dozen volcanoes are usually erupting on Earth at any given time. Some of these eruptions are devastating, killing people, damaging homes and infrastructure, altering landscapes, and even disrupting climate. Fortunately, many eruptions are preceded by signs of unrest (precursors) that can be used to anticipate eruptions and support disaster planning.

Accurate forecasts of the likelihood and magnitude of an eruption in a specified timeframe are rooted in a scientific understanding of the processes that govern the storage, ascent, and eruption of magma. Yet our understanding of volcanic systems is incomplete and biased by the limited number of volcanoes and eruption styles observed with advanced instrumentation. Eruption behaviors are diverse (e.g., violently explosive or gently effusive, intermittent or sustained, last hours or decades) and may change over time at a volcano. More accurate and societally useful forecasts of eruptions and their hazards are possible by using new observations and models of volcanic processes.

At the request of managers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine established a committee to undertake the following tasks:

• Summarize current understanding of how magma is stored, ascends, and erupts.
• Discuss new disciplinary and interdisciplinary research on volcanic processes and precursors that could lead to forecasts of the type, size, and timing of volcanic eruptions.
• Describe new observations or instrument deployment strategies that could improve quantification of volcanic eruption processes and precursors.
• Identify priority research and observations needed to improve understanding of volcanic eruptions and to inform monitoring and early warning efforts.

These four tasks are closely related. Improved understanding of volcanic processes guides monitoring efforts and improves forecasts. In turn, improved monitoring provides the insights and constraints to better understand volcanic processes. This report identifies key science questions, research and observation priorities, and approaches for building a volcano science community capable of tackling them. The discussion below first summarizes common themes among these science questions and priorities, and then describes ambitious goals (grand challenges) for making major advances in volcano science.

KEY QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH AND OBSERVATION PRIORITIES

Many fundamental aspects of volcanoes are understood conceptually and often quantitatively. Plate tectonics and mantle convection explain where volcanoes occur. We understand how magma is initially created in Earth’s mantle, how it rises toward the surface, that it can be stored and evolve in magma chambers within the crust, and that a number of processes initiate eruptions. We understand in general terms why some magmas erupt explosively and others do not, and why some volcanoes erupt more often than others. High-resolution observations and models combined provide a detailed and quantitative picture of eruptions once they begin.

Our understanding is incomplete, however, especially those aspects of volcano behavior that define the timing, duration, style, size, and consequences of eruptions. Additional questions relate to our ability to forecast eruptions. What processes produce commonly observed geophysical and geochemical precursors? What factors determine if and when unrest will be followed by eruption? How rapidly do magmas mobilize prior to eruption? Which volcanoes are most likely to erupt in coming years and decades? And we are only beginning to decipher the impacts of large volcanic eruptions on Earth’s climate and biosphere.

Our understanding of the entire life cycle and diversity of volcanoes—from their conception in the mantle to their periods of repose, unrest, and eruption to their eventual demise—is poised for major advances over the next decades. Exciting advances in our ability to observe volcanoes—including satellite measurements of ground deformation and gas emissions, drone observations, advanced seismic monitoring, and real-time, high-speed acquisition of data during eruptions—await broad application to volcanic systems. Parallel advances in analytical capabilities to decipher the history of magmas, and in conceptual, experimental, and numerical models of magmatic and volcanic phenomena, both below and above ground, will provide new insights on the processes that govern the generation and eruption of magma and greatly improve the quality of short-term, months to minutes, forecasts. The time is ripe to test these models with observations from new instrumentation, data collected on fine temporal and spatial scales, and multidisciplinary synthesis.

Four common themes emerged from the research priorities detailed in the following chapters:

• Develop multiscale models that capture critical processes, feedbacks, and thresholds to advance understanding of volcanic processes and the consequences of eruptions on Earth systems.

Advances will come from measurements of physical and chemical properties of magmas and erupted materials, deciphering the history of magmas (before and during eruption) recorded in their crystals and bubbles, and developing new models that account for the numerous interacting processes and vast range of scales, from microscopic ash particles and crystals, to eruption columns that extend to the stratosphere.

• Collect high-resolution measurements at more volcanoes and throughout their life cycle to overcome observational bias.

Few volcanoes have a long record of monitoring data. New and expanded networks of ground, submarine, airborne, and satellite sensors that characterize deformation, gases, and fluids are needed to document volcanic processes during decade-long periods of repose and unrest. High-rate, near-real-time measurements are needed to capture eruptions as they occur, and efficient dissemination of information is needed to formulate a response. Both rapid response and sustained monitoring are required to document the life cycle of volcanoes. Monitoring and understanding volcanic processes go hand-in-hand: Different types of volcanoes have different life cycles and behaviors, and hence merit different monitoring strategies.

• Synthesize a broad range of observations, from the subsurface to space, to interpret unrest and forecast eruption size, style, and duration.

Physics-based models promise to improve forecasts by assimilating monitoring data and observations. Progress in forecasting also requires theoretical and experimental advances in understanding eruption processes, characterization of the thermal and mechanical properties of magmas and their host rocks, and model validation and verification. Critical to eruption forecast-

ing is reproducing with models and documenting with measurements the emergent precursory phenomena in the run-up to eruption.

• Obtain better chronologies and rates of volcanic processes.

Long-term forecasts rely on understanding the geologic record of eruptions preserved in volcanic deposits on land, in marine and lake sediments, and in ice cores. Secondary hazards that are not part of the eruption itself, such as mud flows and floods, need to be better studied, as they can have more devastating consequences than the eruption. Understanding the effects of eruptions on other Earth systems, including climate, the oceans, and landscapes, will take coordinated efforts across disciplines. Progress in long-term forecasts, years to decades, requires open-access databases that document the full life cycle of volcanoes.

GRAND CHALLENGES

The key science questions, research and observation priorities, and new approaches highlighted in this report can be summarized by three overarching grand challenges. These challenges are grand because they are large in scope and would substantially advance the field, and they are challenges because great effort will be needed. Figure S.1 illustrates these challenges using the example of the 2016 eruption of Pavlof volcano, Alaska. The volcanic hazards and eruption history of Pavlof are summarized by Waythomas et al. (2006) .

A principal goal of volcano science is to reduce the adverse impacts of volcanism on humanity, which requires accurate forecasts. Most current eruption forecasts use pattern recognition in monitoring and geologic data. Such approaches have led to notable forecasts in some cases, but their use is limited because volcanoes evolve over time, there is a great diversity of volcano behavior, and we have no experience with many of the potentially most dangerous volcanoes. A major challenge is to develop forecasting models based instead on physical and chemical processes, informed by monitoring. This approach is used in weather forecasting. Addressing this challenge requires an understanding of the basic processes of magma storage and ascent as well as thresholds of eruption initiation. This understanding and new discoveries will emerge from new observations, experimental measurements, and modeling approaches. Models are important because they capture our conceptual and quantitative understanding. Experiments test our understanding. Relating models to observations requires multiple types of complementary data collected over an extended period of time.

Determining the life cycle of volcanoes is key for interpreting precursors and unrest, revealing the processes that govern the initiation and duration of eruptions, and understanding how volcanoes evolve between eruptions. Our understanding is biased by an emphasis over the last few decades of observation with modern instruments, and most of these well-studied eruptions have been small events that may not scale to the largest and most devastating eruptions. Strategic deployment of instruments on volcanoes with different characteristics would help build the requisite knowledge and confidence to make useful forecasts. For every volcano in the United States, a realistic goal is to have at least one seismometer to record the small earthquakes that accompany magma movement. Even in the United States, less than half of potentially active volcanoes have a seismometer, and less than 2 percent have continuous gas measurements. Global and daily satellite images of deformation, and the ability to measure passive CO 2 degassing from space would fill critical observational gaps. Geologic and geophysical studies are required to extend understanding of the life cycle of volcanoes to longer periods of time. On shorter time scales, satellite measurements, emerging technologies such as drones, and expansion of ground-based monitoring networks promise to document processes that remain poorly understood.

The volcano science community needs to be prepared to capitalize on the data and insights gained from eruptions as they happen. This will come from effective integration of the complementary research and monitoring roles by universities, the USGS, and other government agencies. Volcano science is fundamentally interdisciplinary and the necessary expertise is spread across these institutions. The science is also international, because every volcano provides insights on processes that drive eruptions. Volcanic eruptions can have global impacts and so demand international collaboration and cooperation. New vehicles are needed to support interdisciplinary research and training, including community collaboration and education at all levels. Examples of similar successful programs in other fields include NSF’s Cooperative Studies of the Earth’s Deep Interior program for interdisciplinary research and National Earthquake Hazards Reduction

Program for federal government agency–academic partnerships.

Results of the above investments in science will be most evident to the public in improved planning and warning and, ideally, a deeper appreciation of this amazing natural phenomenon.

Volcanic eruptions are common, with more than 50 volcanic eruptions in the United States alone in the past 31 years. These eruptions can have devastating economic and social consequences, even at great distances from the volcano. Fortunately many eruptions are preceded by unrest that can be detected using ground, airborne, and spaceborne instruments. Data from these instruments, combined with basic understanding of how volcanoes work, form the basis for forecasting eruptions—where, when, how big, how long, and the consequences.

Accurate forecasts of the likelihood and magnitude of an eruption in a specified timeframe are rooted in a scientific understanding of the processes that govern the storage, ascent, and eruption of magma. Yet our understanding of volcanic systems is incomplete and biased by the limited number of volcanoes and eruption styles observed with advanced instrumentation. Volcanic Eruptions and Their Repose, Unrest, Precursors, and Timing identifies key science questions, research and observation priorities, and approaches for building a volcano science community capable of tackling them. This report presents goals for making major advances in volcano science.

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Key Facts About Protecting Yourself After a Volcanic Eruption

You can do many things to protect yourself and your family after a volcanic eruption:

• Pay attention to warnings, and obey instructions from local authorities. For example, stay indoors until local health officials tell you it is safe to go outside.
• Listen to local news updates for information about air quality, drinking water, and roads.
• Turn off all heating and air conditioning units and fans, and close windows, doors, and fireplace and woodstove dampers to help keep ash and gases from getting into your house.

• Exposure to ash can harm your health, particularly the respiratory (breathing) tract. To protect yourself while you are outdoors or while you are cleaning up ash that has gotten indoors, a disposable particulate respirator (also known as an “air purifying respirator”) may be considered. An N-95 respirator is the most common type of disposable particulate respirator and can be purchased at businesses such as hardware stores. It is important to follow directions for proper use of this respirator. For more information, see NIOSH-Approved Disposable Particulate Respirators (Filtering Facepieces)  . If you don’t have a disposable particulate respirator, you can protect yourself by using a nuisance dust mask as a last resort, but you should stay outdoors for only short periods while dust is falling. Nuisance dust masks can provide comfort and relief from exposure to relatively non-hazardous contaminants such as pollen, but they do not offer as much protection as a particulate respirator. Note that disposable particulate respirators do not filter toxic gases and vapors.
• Stay away from ashfall areas, if possible. Avoid contact with ash as much as you can. Keep your skin covered to avoid irritation from contact with ash.
• Wear goggles to protect your eyes from ash.

• Do not travel unless you have to. Driving in ash is hazardous to your health and your car. Driving will stir up more ash that can clog engines and stall vehicles.
• Replace disposable furnace filters or clean permanent furnace filters frequently.
• If your drinking water has ash in it, use another source of drinking water, such as purchased bottled water, until your water can be tested.
• Clear roofs of ash. Ash is very heavy and can cause buildings to collapse. Be very cautious when working on a roof. Ash can be slippery and make it easy to fall.

Volcanic eruptions may result in floods, landslides and mudslides, power outages, and wildfires. For information on protecting yourself against these hazards, visit the following:

• Earthquakes Includes information on preparing for, surviving, and recovering from an earthquake.
• Floods Includes information on making sure food and water are safe, cleaning up, and emergency supplies.
• Landslides and Mudslides Includes information on protective measures to take before, during, and after a landslide or debris flow.
• Power outages Includes information on carbon monoxide poisoning, alternative heat and energy sources, downed power lines, and food and water safety.
• Wildfires Includes information on smoke inhalation and other wildfire hazards.

For more information on volcanoes and health, see the following sources:

• Volcano external icon
• Volcanoes: Are You Ready? external icon
• Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Information on 2018 Kilauea Eruption external icon
• Volcanic Gas external icon
• Volcanic Ash Health Effects external icon
• Volcanic Ash Facts and Guidance external icon
• Volcanoes external icon  (also available in  Spanish pdf icon external icon [PDF – 35 KB])

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• Education & Outreach
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• Volcano Preparedness

At the SRC we provide advice as well as produce maps and other public information material so as to enable the public and authorities to better prepare for volcanic eruptions. Although there is nothing we can do to prevent a volcanic eruption, being prepared for these events can considerably reduce the risks posed to you and your family. Do not wait for an eruption to occur to start thinking about preparedness. A volcanic eruption CAN happen in your lifetime. Here are some actions you should take to protect yourself and your loved ones:

Before an Eruption

• How close is your home to the volcano? Know where the ‘live’ (potentially active) volcanoes are located in relation to where you live. Visit the Island Profile section to see volcanic hazard maps for each island.
• No volcano on your island? Remember, residents of neighbouring non-volcanic islands e.g. Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad, Tobago etc. may be impacted by secondary volcanic hazards such as ashfall and the migration of people fleeing the volcanic eruption. During the 1979 eruption of La Soufriere volcano in St. Vincent , ash was recorded as far as Barbados .
• Stock an emergency supply kit with items that will last you and your family for at least 72 hours (3 days). This should include items like non-perishable food, water, battery-powered radio, batteries, breathing masks for each family member, flashlights, batteries and medication.
• Volcanoes may move from unrest to full scale eruption in a short period of time therefore you should have an emergency plan to enable you to evacuate at short notice. Ensure that all family members understand the plan. This should include an evacuation route to get to high ground away from the volcano. If you live in a danger zone (red or orange areas on the volcanic hazard map), make arrangements with friends or relatives in the safe zone (yellow or green areas on the volcanic hazard map) with whom you may be able to stay temporarily during and after an eruption. Visit the Island Profile section to see a volcanic hazard map for your island.
• Volcanoes do not usually erupt suddenly without warning. They are normally preceded by clear signals which, once recognized, enable timely warnings to be issued. Identify a meeting point to contact family members in the event that warnings are issued when everyone is apart, such as during the day when adults are at work and children are at school.
• Make a list of emergency numbers including your national disaster management office, police, fire, hospital and the nearest emergency shelter.
• Know what to expect by educating yourself on the impact of volcanic eruptions and relevant safety measures. Get involved in your local disaster management group or conduct online research to learn more.

During an Eruption

• Follow the instructions issued by authorities. During a volcanic crisis your national disaster management agency and The UWI Seismic Research Centre are the official sources of information.
• Leave the area promptly if told to do so. Avoid areas downwind of the volcano. Get to high ground away from the volcano.
• For submarine volcanic eruptions e.g. Kick-‘em-Jenny , avoid passing near the summit of the volcano by boat. Pay attention to exclusion zone warnings that are in the sea as boats passing near or over the volcano may sink or be damaged by ejected material.
• STAY INDOORS. Close all windows and doors.
• If possible, bring all animals and livestock into closed shelter and store machinery indoors.
• Beware of mudflows or lahars . Avoid low-lying areas, where poisonous gases can settle and flash floods can be most dangerous.
• Stay out of the high hazard areas as identified by the authorities. These are also shown in the red and orange on your island’s volcanic hazard map. DO NOT attempt to get close to have a look at the erupting volcano!
• If possible, help others, who may require special assistance – infants, elderly, disabled.

After an Eruption

• Listen to the official radio or television stations, if possible, for the latest information. If you have access to the internet, visit your local disaster management office website or www.uwiseismic.com for regular updates.
• Be sure to avoid volcanic ash deposits or mudflows/lahars. These are EXTREMLY dangerous and should not be explored. Avoid driving in heavy ash fall since ash can clog engines and stall vehicles.
• When outdoors, protect yourself with proper clothing such as long sleeved shirts and pants.
• Inhaling volcanic ash is very dangerous to your health. Use a dust mask or damp cloth to help you breathe properly and goggles to protect your eyes.
• Carefully clear roofs of ash as accumulated ash is very heavy and can cause roofs to collapse.

Related Resources

• Volcanic Hazards
• Volcanic Ash Impacts & Mitigation
• USGS Volcano Hazards Program
• International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN)
• Tales of Disasters – Volcanoes (for children)
• Caribbean Volcanoes
• Volcano Monitoring
• Geothermal Energy
• Kick ‘Em Jenny
• La Soufriѐre Eruption 2020-2021

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How to Prepare for a Volcanic Eruption

Last Updated: April 8, 2024

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 61 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 317,931 times. Learn more...

Being prepared in the event of a volcanic eruption can mean the difference between life and death. More likely, it will help you protect your health and property from volcanic ash. Organizing a plan of action is key to proper preparation, and educating everyone in your family or household will help to better ensure their safety and well-being when disaster erupts. When an eruption occurs, you should follow official guidance, but be prepared both to take shelter and to evacuate.

Making Emergency Plans

• Start by writing down all the different ways you can contact each other, and the relevant phone numbers and email addresses. Don't forget landline phone numbers.
• The eruption might occur suddenly when your family are not all at home, so it's important to know the emergency plans of the relevant schools, workplaces, and local government.
• Identify somebody out of town, such as a family member or family friend, who can act as your central point of contact.
• If you get separated and can't get in touch with each other, check in with this person out of town who will be able to relay information between you all.

• One of these should be indoor, preferably at home or a nearby storm shelter, somewhere you will be protected from winds and potential volcanic ash.
• The second should be a place in your neighborhood that is not your home. If for any reason you cannot get to your house, a nearby location is the next best thing.
• The third place should be in your town, but outside of your neighborhood. A central public building such as a library or community center could be a good choice.
• Finally, decide on a place outside of your town. This is the place you will go to meet up with your family if you have to leave town suddenly. A family or friend out of town is the best choice for this meeting point.

• You can rehearse the plans and revise them at regular family meetings to ensure that everyone is involved and feels part of the planning. [2] X Research source
• Talking to children about the possibility of a disaster is better than pretending it may never happen.
• If children are aware that everything is planned, and know what to do, their fear and anxiety will be reduced in the event of a disaster.

• If you run a business, you have a responsibility for your staff as well as your family.
• A volcano can cause severe property damage. Consider purchasing insurance if you are in a high-risk area.

Ensuring You Have the Necessary Supplies

• Make sure that everyone in your family knows where the kit is kept, and can easily access it in an emergency.
• A flashlight, phone charger, and radio combined as one, that runs on both solar power and hand cranking is the ideal item to have ready in your house for any natural disaster event. Pack this if you have one.

• Try to make sure you have a full tank of gas. If you don't have access to a car, consider asking a neighbor or friend if you can make an arrangement with them to share a car.
• Be sure to speak to the friend or neighbor in advance and don't wait until the evacuation is under way.
• If you don't have transportation arranged, speak to local emergency services staff during the evacuation.

• The N-95 disposable respirator is recommended for use by the government, and can be purchased at local hardware stores.
• If you do not have a respirator, you can use a simple dust mask. This might help ease the irritation if you are only exposed to the ash for a short time, but does not offer the level of protection that a respirator does.
• If there is volcanic ash in the air outside, stay inside as much as possible to avoid the worst effects.

Taking the Right Course of Action in an Eruption

• When you evacuate, only take essentials with you, such as your emergency kit and your car emergency kit. Be sure that you have a supply of any prescription medications that will last at least a week.
• If you have time, be sure to switch off the gas, electricity and water in your house.
• It's also advisable to disconnect your appliances before you go. This reduce the chances of an electric shock when the power is turned back on.
• If you are driving, you should follow the designated evacuation routes, and be prepared for heavy traffic. Other routes may be blocked so stick with the given evacuation routes.
• If you evacuate, avoid low-lying areas and valleys. There is an increased chance of encountering a mudflow in these areas. If you come to a river, look upstream before crossing. Do not cross if you see a mudflow approaching. [5] X Research source

• Place your livestock in an enclosed area or make arrangements to transport them as far offsite as possible.

• Run extra water in the sinks, bathtubs, and other containers as an emergency supply for cleaning (use as little as possible) or purifying and drinking . You can also get emergency drinking water from a water heater .
• Get your family together in a room above ground level that does not have windows in it, if possible.
• Keep listening to updates, but stay indoors until you are told it is safe to go out. This is the best way to avoid potential respiratory damage from volcanic ash.

• Even swimming goggles and clothing can be used to protect your eyes and breathing if that's all you have.
• When entering a building after being outside under ash, remove your outer layer of clothing. The ash is difficult to remove from anything it falls on.
• If you're going outside, remove contact lenses and wear glasses instead. If the ash gets in behind contact lenses, it can cut into your eye, causing corneal abrasions.

Community Q&A

• Ideally have a landline telephone in the room in which you will be holding up. This can be used to let your emergency contact know to keep their phone line available in case you need to let them know about any problems or issues. Thanks Helpful 18 Not Helpful 10
• Only use the phone lines for emergency calls to avoid clogging the communications systems. Thanks Helpful 15 Not Helpful 10
• Report broken utility lines to local authorities if you see any. Thanks Helpful 12 Not Helpful 9

• Volcanic ash is a respiratory health hazard. It impacts all people but especially those with such respiratory problems as asthma and bronchitis. Thanks Helpful 18 Not Helpful 4
• Avoid sightseeing! Not only do you endanger your own life but natural disaster sightseers are becoming a frequent problem for emergency services workers and can hamper rescue work. At all times stay out of designated restricted zones. Thanks Helpful 17 Not Helpful 6

Things You'll Need

• Emergency kit and car kit
• Communications devices (telephone, radio)
• Towels, etc., for sealing up house cracks
• Transportation for early evacuation
• Pet carriers and animal transportation
• Food and drink

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
• ↑ http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit
• ↑ http://www.ready.gov/volcanoes

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A volcano eruption may release acid, gases, rocks, and ash into the air. Lava and debris can flow at up to 100 mph, destroying everything in their path.

Return to Home Page  

• Be Prepared for a Volcano

All of this information can be found on the hazard's Information Sheet.

Quick Facts

• Alaska, Hawaii, California, and Oregon have the most active volcanoes, but other states and territories have active volcanoes, too.
• Volcanic ash can travel hundreds of miles and cause severe health problems.
• Can contaminate water supplies, damage machinery, and reduce visibility.
• Can create smog and harmful gases that threaten low-lying areas, make it hard to breathe, and irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat.

Words to Know

Protect yourself key messages.

If you are under a volcano warning:

• Listen for emergency information and alerts.
• Follow evacuation or shelter orders. If advised, evacuate early.
• Avoid areas downstream of the eruption.
• Protect yourself from falling ash.
• Do not drive in heavy ash fall.

Featured Protective Actions

• If authorities predict that a volcano will erupt or if a volcano is already erupting, the best possible Protective Action is to follow the evacuation order issued by authorities. Evacuate immediately from the volcano area to avoid flying debris, hot gases, lateral blast, and lava flow.
• Volcanic ash can travel hundreds to thousands of miles from the volcano. Individuals should exercise caution during ashfall and afterwards during cleanup of ash and debris. Those exposed to ash should protect themselves from contact. Wearing goggles, eyeglasses instead of contact lens, N-95 disposable respirators (masks) or damp cloths, and long-sleeved shirts and long pants will reduce exposure. Ash asphyxiation, while not the primary cause of mortality from volcanic eruptions worldwide, is a significant cause of death. [1] [2] [3]  A number of respiratory health effects are possible from exposure to ash, especially in those with preexisting respiratory conditions. [4] 

To learn more about the research behind this hazard and its associated Protective Actions, click the "View Research Summary" twirldown.

Protective Actions

Learn more about how to prepare Before, During, and After this hazard by exploring our research-backed Protective Actions.

Know Your Risk

Content cited on this page is provided solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be an endorsement of any non-federal entity by FEMA, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or the U.S. government.

Additional Resources

http://www.ready.gov/kids/know-the-facts/volcanoes

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/

Hazard Information Sheets

FEMA's hazard information sheets have important, research-based information people can use to prepare for, keep safe during, and recover from a disaster

Click the links below to download the Volcano information sheet.

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What to do before, during, and after a volcano eruption

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – There are 300 named and unnamed volcanoes in the country, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Around 23 of these volcanoes are considered active while 27 are potentially active. The rest are inactive volcanoes – volcanoes with no recorded eruption in the past years. (READ:  Map of active volcanoes in the Philippines )

Active volcanoes

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum previously said that the number of active volcanoes could still increase given the country’s location within the Pacific Ocean’s  Ring of Fire ,  a 40,000-circle of interconnected fault lines around the Pacific Ocean, where other seismic activities such as earthquakes also occur on a daily basis.

A volcano is considered active if it has erupted within the last 600-10,000 years, as backed up by historical accounts and based on analyses of datable materials. But no matter how long volcanoes sleep, they are still capable of waking up to life and causing significant eruptions. 

The number of volcanoes in the country can be attributed to its unique tectonic setting making it ideal to volcano formation.  

“The archipelago is surrounded by subducting plates as manifested by the trenches that are related to volcano formation,” Phivolcs explained. 

This is how the public should prepare before, respond during, and recover after volcanic eruptions, according to Phivolcs and the Office of Civil Defense:  

• Know the signs of an impending eruption such as the increase in the frequency of volcanic quakes accompanied by rumbling sounds, change in color of steam emission from white to gray, and drying up of vegetation, springs, and wells around the volcano.
• Know the community’s safety plans by monitoring the latest advisories and warnings, knowing the location of the evacuation site, and preparing your family’s go bag.
• Each person should be aware of the dangers that volcanic eruptions.  Volcanic eruptions are expected to caush ash falls which in turn could harm humans, animals, plants, equipments, and structures. Beyond that, fine volcanic ash is also often respirable which can cause pulmo-respiratory diseases if inhaled over prolonged period. 
• Prepare all necessary things to bring in case of evacuation: gas mask or clean cloth, candles, matches, flashlights, extra batteries. Don’t forget to prepare your disaster kit ahead of time. 
• Know which areas are covered by the danger zones. 
• Stay calm. Cover your nose and mouth with mask or clean cloth and wear protective goggles.
• If you are outside, immediately seek cover in case of ash or rock falls. Wear glasses to protect your eyes and avoid all low-lying places. 
• If you are inside a house, listen to the radio for updates and developments regarding the volcanic eruption. Close all windows and doors of the house and your car to prevent ashes from getting inside. 
• If you are driving a vehicle, pull to the side of the road and stop if there is a heavy ashfall. 
• As soon as the ashfall tapers, scrape off the ash that has accummulated on roof tops to prevent collapse.
• When notified, immediately evacuate to safer grounds. Stay in the evacuation center until further instructions. Do not attempt to leave the place unless told to do.
• Thoroughly wash utensils before eating. Cover water containers and food to avoid contamination with ash.
• Keep your pets in their shelter or inside the house to prevent them from inhaling ash.
• Stay away from rivers and streams for possible lahar flow.
• Wear masks when cleaning.
• After removing the ash, clean the roof and gutter with water to prevent corrosion.
• Shake loose the ash from plants, furniture, and windows before cleaning them with water. Cover your nose while cleaning. 
• Wait for further announcements related to the volcanic eruption.

While we cannot stop volcanic eruptions, the public, through informed action, can minimize its adverse effects. – Rappler.com 

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Follow our news, recent searches, no casualties in one of indonesia’s biggest volcanic eruptions in 50 years. what lessons does it offer in disaster preparedness, advertisement.

All 838 locals on tiny Ruang island evacuated before rescue teams arrived. Their disaster preparedness offers valuable lessons to others in volcanic areas, experts say.

This audio is AI-generated.

Nivell Rayda

JAKARTA: They live on a remote island in the Celebes Sea. The nearest search and rescue office is a six-hour boat ride away. 

Against these odds, the 838 people who live in the shadow of Indonesia’s Mount Ruang managed to evacuate to safety just before the volcano rumbled to life in a series of massive eruptions last week.

Scientists say last week’s eruptions were some of the biggest Indonesia has seen in the last 50 years, unleashing 200 million cubic meters of ash, hot rocks and lava from its chamber.

The intensity of Mt Ruang’s eruptions and the amount of material ejected were comparable to the 2010 eruptions of Mt Merapi, Indonesia’s most volatile volcano located 2,000km away in Java, which killed 353 people.

Yet, no lives were lost during Mt Ruang’s eruptions despite the relatively short window for the island’s inhabitants to evacuate. Ruang island is about 100km northeast of Manado city in North Sulawesi.

Although the government had recorded an increase in volcanic activities since Apr 10, locals were only told to evacuate at 2pm on Apr 16, mere hours before the first eruption at 7.19pm.

Rescue officials stationed in Sulawesi reached Ruang island the following day. By that time, the island was already deserted with all its residents evacuating on their own to the neighbouring island of Tagulandang, among other places.

“A speedy evacuation is critical in any disaster situation. And the fact that people on Ruang island did that on their own, with little intervention from authorities, shows how well their disaster preparedness is,” said Dr Eko Teguh Paripurno, a disaster mitigation expert from Yogyakarta’s National Development University (UPN).

They knew when to evacuate and where to go. This was the main reason why, despite the massive eruptions, there were no deaths reported.”

Mt Ruang’s eruptions have highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness among those living in remote areas with a high risk of natural disasters, Dr Eko said. Lessons include mapping out hazardous areas and communicating the risks clearly to inhabitants, having a fast and accurate early warning system, and ensuring people stay away from the exclusion zone.

The consequences of lax disaster preparedness can be dire, as seen during the Dec 3 eruption of Mt Marapi in West Sumatra, which killed 23 people. The mountain, a popular hiking spot, had been on a moderate alert level of two since 2011 and people were supposed to stay at least two kilometres away from the crater.

But hikers told local media that they were not briefed about the dangers by officials from the Marapi National Park when they obtained permission to enter the mountain, nor were there signposts warning people that they were too close to hazardous areas.

Visiting volcanoes big business in Indonesia but safety in spotlight after several eruptions including Marapi

Indonesia lowers Mount Ruang volcano alert level, reopens nearby airport

Indonesia has four volcano alert levels, ranging from normal to very high. The various levels have different exclusion zones that increase up to a six-kilometre radius around the crater. Mt Marapi is now at level three.

Before this month, Mt Ruang last erupted in 2002, according to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Programme. Since Apr 16, however, the volcano has erupted eight times – on occasion, so powerfully as to spew a towering plume of smoke more than three kilometres high.

Ashes from the volcano later spread to the main islands of Sulawesi and Borneo, disrupting air travel and forcing the closure of some airports including Manado’s Sam Ratulangi Airport, which was shut for five days.

Mt Ruang’s volcanic activities have since receded but as of Thursday (Apr 25), people were still barred from setting foot on the 19 sqkm island.

STRINGENT POLICIES ARE KEY

Straddling the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is home to 127 volcanoes, 76 of which are considered very active.

Several of these volcanoes are completely surrounded by the sea.

“There are many volcanic islands which share a similar situation as Mt Ruang,” said Professor Irwan Meilano, dean of the faculty of earth sciences and technology at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

Some of these volcanic islands are now uninhabited – like Krakatoa, whose cataclysmic eruption in 1883 triggered a tsunami that killed more than 36,000 people.

But there are those which are occupied by many inhabitants like the 76 sqkm island of Ternate, where more than 200,000 people live in the shadow of the volatile Mt Gamalama. The 1,715m-tall mountain last erupted in 2022.

“For islands like this, it is important to properly map out where the hazardous areas are,” said Prof Irwan, adding that these risks must be communicated properly to all inhabitants of such islands. This, he continued, should apply to both sparsely and densely populated volcanic regions.

“The key is stringent spatial planning policy. There are areas which are not fit for human settlement. Meanwhile, areas which can be settled must have clear evacuation routes,” he said.

Early detection a key part of Indonesia’s fire management efforts in face of greater wildfire threat

The majority of Ternate’s inhabitants live on the southeastern side of the island, away from the lava flow which has historically affected the northwestern slopes of Mt Gamalama.

Ruang island, however, is about a-fourth the size of Ternate. Based on previous eruptions, scientists consider the entire island vulnerable to lava flows and fast-moving clouds of gas and volcanic matter in the event of an eruption. Historically, Mt Ruang’s eruptions have also been many times more powerful than Mt Gamalama’s.

The only escape route is by boat to the larger nearby Tagulandang island, which is about 1km away.

“Because the only evacuation routes are by sea, timing is key,” said Dr Eko of UPN Yogyakarta. “Which is why disaster preparedness training as well as a fast and accurate early warning system are so important.”

BETTER MONITORING NEEDED

Predicting Mt Ruang’s next eruption will be a challenge.

Because of its remoteness, the 725m-tall volcano is not well recorded or studied. There is only one observation station on Tagulandang which monitors the volcano’s seismic activity remotely based on a series of instruments installed at the slopes of Mt Ruang.

In contrast, Indonesia’s most volatile volcano, Mt Merapi in Java (not to be confused with Mt Marapi in West Sumatra), has three observation outposts. 

This allows scientists to measure more accurately how much the volcano is deforming, a sign that pressure is building inside the volcano, or spot any other irregularities. 

They can then better predict when an eruption will happen – possibly days or even weeks in advance – providing officials more time to evacuate residents.

Three months after devastating West Java quake, authorities redesign the area to prepare for future

In contrast, officials only had hours to warn Ruang island residents of an imminent eruption. 

“Mt Ruang’s activities increased quite suddenly and escalated quickly,” Mdm Heruningtyas Desi Purnamasari, a volcano observation team leader with the Indonesian Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre (PVMBG), said at a press conference on Apr 18.

The situation deteriorated so rapidly, the PVMBG had to raise Mt Ruang’s alert level twice on the same day on Apr 16, and ordered residents to stay at least four kilometres away from the crater.

After the second eruption in the early hours of Apr 17, Mt Ruang was on the maximum alert level of four and the exclusion zone was raised to six kilometres around the volcano, meaning some residents on neighbouring Tagulandang also had to evacuate.

As of Thursday, more than 14,000 people were evacuated and seeking shelter in the safer parts of Tagulandang as well as Sulawesi.

Given Mt Ruang’s history of triggering a deadly tsunami, scientists say it should be better monitored.

“During an eruption in 1871, there were witnesses who said that there was a tsunami whose height reached five metres. But there are those who said (the tsunami) could be up to 25m (by the time it reached) other islands,” said Dr Mirzam Abdurrachman, a volcanologist from Bandung Institute of Technology.

At least 400 people were killed in the 1871 tsunami, caused when sections of Mt Ruang collapsed and created massive waves that travelled for tens of kilometres.

There were similar fears last week, prompting officials to issue a tsunami warning as a precaution. But the warning was withdrawn on Monday (Apr 22), after PVMBG officials determined the volcano would remain relatively intact in spite of the ongoing eruptions.

Scientists say if there had been a tsunami last week, there would have been a higher chance of deaths.

The last time a volcano-triggered tsunami occurred in Indonesia was in 2018. More than 400 people in coastal areas surrounding Krakatoa were killed.    

‘COMPLACENCY IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER’

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said last week’s eruption damaged more than 3,000 homes as well as several churches and schools in both Ruang and Tagulandang.

Aerial photographs taken by rescuers and local journalists showed nearly all structures in the affected areas covered in volcanic ash. Some were charred by the extreme heat, while others were damaged by hot lava rocks falling to the ground.

On Apr 22, the PVMBG lowered the alert level of Mt Ruang to three but still declared the volcanic island as well as parts of Tagulandang within a four-kilometre radius from the crater off limits. The centre warned that Mt Ruang continued to show activity and has not returned to normal.

The warning has not deterred a few Ruang residents from secretly returning to inspect their damaged homes and retrieve some of their belongings.

“I came to pick up my generator, my washing machine and a few other tools we will use at our refugee camp,” a Ruang Island resident named Mr Dikson told Indonesian news portal Berita Satu on Tuesday (Apr 23).

Mr Lilik Kurniawan, BNPB deputy for logistics and equipment, said officials will conduct patrols and erect warning signs to keep residents from entering the island.

“We want to remind people that the island is still considered as a high risk area,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Lilik also promised the authorities would meet the evacuees’ need for shelter, food and clothes.

Dr Eko, the disaster mitigation expert, said it is important to ensure that the locals stay away from the exclusion zone, which can be in place for years as is the case with Marapi.

“In many disaster situations that I have observed, the number one killer is complacency, the thinking (that) ‘I’ll just ignore the warnings for a little while, it will be alright’. Especially now that volcanic activities have receded and people are getting tired of living in refugee camps,” he said. 

“The situation can deteriorate again. The volcano can still erupt. People need to stay vigilant.”

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Indonesia evacuating thousands after volcano erupts, as tsunami fear looms

Indonesian rescuers have raced to evacuate thousands of people after a volcano erupted five times, forcing authorities to close a nearby airport and issue a warning that the crater collapsing into the sea could cause a tsunami.

Mount Ruang's crater flamed with lava against a backdrop of lightning bolts overnight after eruptions pushed an ash column more than a mile into the sky and forced authorities to raise their alert to the highest level of a four-tiered system.

Taka, a local fisherman who only gave one name, was at sea helping people to safety by boat when the crater unleashed a fiery orange column.

"There was a mix of fire and rocks. Lava flowed in various directions," he told AFP.

The volcano sits on a remote island in Indonesia's outermost region and has a peak 725 metres above sea level. It was still billowing a column of smoke up to 800 metres high on Thursday morning, officials said.

Houses on Tagulandang, another remote island nearby, were riddled with holes from falling volcanic rocks on Thursday, rescuers said, and residents were preparing to leave at least temporarily.

"The road condition … is covered by volcanic material," rescuer Ikram Al Ulah told AFP by phone from the Tagulandang seaport.

"Many people are still wandering around. Maybe to evacuate precious goods from their house."

There were no reports of deaths or injuries but authorities said they were rushing to evacuate more than 11,000 residents from the area around Tagulandang, which is home to about 20,000 people.

Residents and tourists evacuated 

Tourists and residents were warned to remain outside a 6 kilometre exclusion zone.

Some residents were already trying to flee in a panic, according to officials.

"People evacuated on their own … due to the volcano's eruption and small rocks that fell," local search and rescue agency official Jandry Paendong said in a statement on Thursday.

"The people scattered to find evacuation routes."

He said 20 staff were helping evacuate residents along the coastline near the volcano on rubber boats.

Authorities also evacuated a prison on Tagulandang, ferrying 17 inmates along with 11 officials and 19 residents by boat to Likupang seaport in northern Sulawesi island, according to rescuer Ikram Al Ulah.

More than 800 people were initially taken from Ruang to Tagulandang after the first eruptions overnight Tuesday, before further eruptions on Wednesday prompted evacuations from that wider zone.

Those displaced gathered at temporary shelters on Tagulandang and were given mats, blankets and masks by authorities.

The navy sent a warship to deliver aid and help the evacuation effort, it said on Thursday, while North Sulawesi police sent dozens of officers.

The warship evacuated 195 people from Tagulandang to Bitung, a coastal city in North Sulawesi, on Thursday evening, a navy spokesperson told AFP.

Tsunami warning

Authorities also warned of a possible tsunami as a result of the eruptions.

"The communities in Tagulandang island [need] to be on alert for … [a] tsunami caused by the collapse of the volcano's body into the sea," volcanology agency head Hendra Gunawan said in a statement on Wednesday.

The authorities' fears were compounded by previous experience.

The crater of Mount Anak Krakatoa between Java and Sumatra islands partly collapsed in 2018 when a major eruption sent huge chunks of the volcano sliding into the ocean, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 400 people and injured thousands.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire".

Mount Ruang's eruption led to the closure of Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado city, located more than 100 kilometres from the volcano, until midnight Thursday.

The airport hosts airlines that fly to Singapore, South Korea and China.

Budget airline AirAsia said it also cancelled flights to and from nine airports in eastern Malaysia and Brunei until Friday morning.

The volcano's last major eruption was in 2002, also requiring the evacuation of residents.

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• Volcanic Eruptions

Volcano Erupts In Indonesia, Sends Ash Cloud 1.5 km Into The Sky

The volcano spewed an ash tower 1.5 kilometres (0.93 miles) above the peak, Indonesia's volcanology agency (PVMBG) said.

Mount Ibu is located on the island of Halmahera in North Maluku province

A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted on Wednesday and spewed an ash tower almost a mile into the sky, prompting officials to raise an alert level to the second-highest and warn people to keep away.

Mount Ibu, located on the island of Halmahera in North Maluku province, erupted at 11:11 am local time (0211 GMT) and sent a thick column of dark smoke and ash above the peak.

"Based on the results of visual and instrumental monitoring... Mount Ibu's activity level has been raised from level two to level three" of a four-tiered system, said PVMBG chief Hendra Gunawan in a statement Wednesday.

Authorities formed an exclusion zone between three and five kilometres around the volcano's crater.

Hendra urged nearby residents to wear face masks and glasses when doing outdoor activities and to prepare for falling volcanic ash.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire".

Last month, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi Province erupted more than half a dozen times, forcing thousands of residents of nearby islands to evacuate.

It erupted again last week and remains at the highest alert level of a four-tiered system.

All of the 800 or so residents of Ruang island have been permanently relocated.

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The Sam Ratulangi International Airport in the city of Manado, located more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the crater, was shut for days because of volcanic ash. It has since re-opened.

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‘Weak’ phreatic eruption occurs at Taal Volcano — Phivolcs

A weak phreatic or steam-driven eruption occurred at the Taal Volcano’s main crater between 8:27 a.m. and 8:31 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in an advisory.

Phivolcs said the eruption produced white and steam-filled plumes that rose 2,000 meters above the main crater and then drifted southwest.

This volcanic activity was attributed to the continued emission of hot volcanic gases from the main crater.

“Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions have decreased last week and averaged 2,191 tons per day on May 6, 2024. Nonetheless, average SO2 emissions since January this year remain high at 8,913 tons per day,” it said.

While similar phreatic events could follow, Phivolcs said the volcanic unrest is unlikely to progress to a magmatic eruption.

Alert Level 1 stays

Phivolcs explained that Taal Volcano remains on Alert Level 1, indicating that it is still in an abnormal state and should not be interpreted as having ceased unrest or the threat of eruptive activity.

Phivolcs added that sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, small amounts of ashfall, and potentially fatal buildups or releases of volcanic gas are all potential threats to Taal Volcano Island (TVI) at Alert Level 1.

It also warned the public that the degassing of high concentrations of volcanic SO2 may pose long-term health risks to communities around Taal Caldera, which are frequently exposed to volcanic gas.

Permanent danger zone

Phivolcs reminded that entering TVI, Taal’s permanent danger zone, particularly near the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, is strictly prohibited.

“Local governments should continuously monitor and assess their communities’ preparedness, as well as implement appropriate response measures, to mitigate hazards posed by long-term degassing and related phreatic activity,” it said.

“Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano because airborne ash and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions, as well as wind-remobilized ash, can pose a threat to aircraft,” it added.

The last phreatic eruption at Taal Volcano occurred on April 28.

‘Eruption’ From Michael Crichton and James Patterson Set to Ignite Bidding War as Film Rights Go to Auction (EXCLUSIVE)

Several major studios, streamers and networks are preparing offers to adapt the upcoming novel from the two best-selling authors

By Katcy Stephan

Katcy Stephan

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Hollywood’s next bidding war is about to erupt. “ Eruption ,” the much-discussed upcoming volcano disaster novel from the late Michael Crichton and James Patterson , is about to be brought to auction, attracting a large group of suitors keen on landing the sought-after film rights.

The auction, being conducted by Shane Salerno at the Story Factory and CAA, will begin within the next two weeks, and could kick off as early as next week, Variety can exclusively reveal.

Popular on Variety

While there are no official numbers on the table just yet, one source tells Variety that the auction is expected to snowball into a monumental bidding war, given the potential of these two highly successful authors. “There’s no comp for this: two authors with combined sales of 700 million,” they said, likening the collaboration to that of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg on “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

To this day, Crichton is still the only author who’s ever been associated with the top movie, TV series and book in the U.S. within the same week. Even 15 years after his death, Crichton’s name is everywhere in Hollywood in 2024, between this new book, the coming release of “Twisters” in July and the reported filming of a new “Jurassic Park” movie in August.

Patterson, meanwhile, has sold over 425 million books, spawning numerous adaptations including Amazon’s new “Alex Cross” series starring Aldis Hodge.

Variety is also told that “Eruption” is being set up as a franchise starter, with plans for multiple books and films. The story is described as having an even bigger scale than “Jurassic Park” or “Twister.”

“Eruption” marks Crichton’s return to his most beloved setting of Hawaii; at the request of Michael and Sherri, the book is dedicated to its people. “To Hawaii’s own, this story is dedicated to you, the people of the famed island chain,” the dedication, translated here from Hawaiian, reads.

Hachette Book Group’s Little, Brown and Company will release “Eruption”  on June 3. The book’s official description reads, “A history-making eruption is about to destroy the Big Island of Hawaii. But a secret held for decades by the U.S. military is far more terrifying than any volcano.” While the novel’s jaw-dropping action sequences surely won’t be cheap to film for whoever lands the project, Crichton and Patterson’s track records promise huge potential for whichever bidder emerges on top.

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