
Overview
Volcanoes are an opening in the earth's surface generally found where tectonic plates are diverging or converging. Erupting volcanoes can eject a variety of material that can cause potential hazards to human life and property. These include: ash, falls, pyroclastics flows, lava flow and gas emission. In addition volcanic eruptions may also produce secondary impacts, including tsunamis, contaminated ash, or aerosol clouds that may contribute to ozone depletion. Detailed knowledge about the history of eruptions for a volcano and likely pathways lava flows and ash dispersal should inform hazard mapping. In addition the threat of volcanic eruption can vary considerably over time, so regular monitoring of volcanoes and broadcast of warnings is essential. The most common consequence of a volcano are population movements as large numbers of people are often forced to flee the moving lava flow. Volcanic eruptions often cause temporary food shortages and volcanic ash landslides called Lahar. [Source: IFRC]
How do I prepare?
Household
If you live near a known active or dormant volcano, be prepared to follow volcano safety instructions from your local emergency officials. Additionally, prepare your household with the following steps:
- Build an Emergency Supply Kit of non-perishable food, battery-powered or hand crank radio, water, flashlights, and a pair of goggles and a disposable breathing mask for each member of the family
- Make a Family Emergency Plan including contact information to use if you family is not together when a volcano erupts, a predetermined location on where to reunite if separated, and a volcano evacuation plan
- Learn what your local emergency office uses to distinguish warnings, whether color codes, status levels, alerts, etc. and know where they will be posted
Remember, although it may seem safe to stay at home and wait out a volcanic eruption, if you are in a hazardous zone, doing so could be very dangerous. Stay safe by following authorities’ instructions and put your volcano evacuation plan into action if needed.
Workplace
Consider creating a or revising your current workplace's Business Continuity Program.
Community Organization
Local and National Government
Potential methods for reducing the impact of volcanic eruptions include location planning to ensure that areas close to volcano slopes are not used for important activities and channelling, damming or diverting lava and debris flows away from settlements through the use of engineering works. Monitoring volcanoes is often feasible and can provide significant lead-time information about volcanic activity. Risks associated with volcanic eruptions can also be reduced by promoting fire-resistant structures as well as engineering structures to withstand the additional weight of ash deposits.
[Source: IFRC]
What do I need to know?
Basics
Because explosive volcanoes blast hot solid and molten rock fragments and gases into the air, ash flows can occur on all sides of a volcano and can fall hundreds of miles downwind. Additionally, volcanic eruptions can hurl rocks for at least 20 miles and can cause avalanches, landslides, and mudslides. Volcanic eruptions can also cause thunderstorms, flash floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, acid rain, wildfires, power outages, and drinking water contamination. Therefore, prepare for volcanic eruptions in conjunction with other hazards. [Source: American Red Cross]
The most common cause of death from a volcanic eruption is suffocation. Exposure to ash can be harmful, especially to infants, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions such as emphysema, asthma, and other chronic lung diseases. Some other health concerns following volcanic eruptions include infectious diseases due to a contaminated water supply, respiratory illnesses, burns, and vehicle accidents due to unsafe road conditions and impaired visibility caused by ash. [Source: CDC]
Glossary
Glowing avalanche: The most dangerous type of volcanic eruption is referred to as a 'glowing avalanche'. This is when freshly erupted magma forms hot pyroclastic flow which have temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees. The pyroclastic flow is formed from rock fragments following a volcanic explosion , the flow surges down the flanks of the volcano at speeds of up to several hundred kilometres per hour, to distances often up to 10km and occasionally as far as 40 km from the original disaster site. [Source: IFRC]
Examples and Lessons
A case study on the importance of effective visualization tools in disaster preparedness, such as volcanic hazard maps, which help public officials and citizens prepare for volcanic emergencies.
Recursos
The United Nations Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR) is the flagship report of the United Nations on worldwide efforts to reduce disaster risk. The GAR is published biennially by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and is the product of the contributions...
National Societies have been implementing a wide range of school-based, youth-led actions geared toward disaster risk reduction, first aid, hygiene and health promotion, water and sanitation, road safety, and youth empowerment. With guidance from IFRC, the RCRC Southeast Asia Youth...
- Document of the CAP Implementation Workshop
- Flyer: 2018 CAP Implementation Workshop...
الاستعداد للاستجابة الفعالة هو نهج دوري يتيح للجمعية الوطنية أن تقوم بشكلٍ منتظم بتقييم وقياس وتحليل نقاط القوة والضعف في نظام الاستجابة
الخاص بها من أجل اتخاذ إجراءات تصحيحية.
يضع نهج الاستعداد للاستجابة الفعّالة الجمعية الوطنية في مركز القيادة لوضع خطة عمل ستؤدي عند تنفيذها إلى...
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Private Aviation Leader’s Emergency Planning Division Shares Urgent Reminders, Tips for Safety and Business Continuity
Fort Lauderdale, FL – August 31, 2018 – With Hawaii’s recent volcano eruption, flood warnings from remnants of Hurricane Lane and potential tropical storms, Air Partner ...
Our Emergency Planning Division are experts in planning, executing and managing air support and air evacuations worldwide. Air Partner has been the trusted aircraft broker for multi-national corporations for over 50 years. We are the only company providing...
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Hercules is one of the 5 communities located at the base of the Chaparrastique volcano, in the San Miguel department in El Salvador. On December 29th 2013, the volcano emitted a large column of smoke and ash, affecting nearby towns. Community members remember the panic...
La comunidad Hércules es una de las 5 comunidades que se ubican en las faldas del volcán Chaparrastique, en el departamento de San Miguel en El Salvador. El 29 de diciembre de 2013 el volcán expulsó una columna de humo y ceniza, afectando los municipios cercanos. Los miembros de la comunidad...
A new report published by The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), ...
- The Disaster Resilience Journal is an...
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Ecuador.- Desde septiembre de 1999 la Provincia de Tungurahua experimentó un fenómeno natural como lo es el inicio de la Erupción del Volcán Tungurahua.
Este proceso eruptivo hizo que los moradores que vivían en las faldas del volcán y sus cercanías tuvieran que ser evacuados para...
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List of resource for educators by the US Geologic Survey.
The report summarizes some of the presentations given at the 11. Forum Katastrophenvorsorge, 18.-19. January, 2011, in Potsdam/Germany.
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