As soon as you hear a siren, turn on the radio to find out what the local emergency management agency advises. You may be told to stay indoors, keep away from certain areas, or, in extreme cases, evacuate. If you don’t live in the area, and you’re just traveling through, you should still be familiar with the region’s warning system so you’ll know what it means when you hear it.
Using this information you can get some idea of how safe your house or workplace is, and you can plan the best route of escape. Because volcanic eruptions are complex and, to some extent, unpredictable, you should have several alternative routes to reach one or more “safe zones. ”
Talk with each of your family members about the evacuation plan. Make sure everyone knows exactly what to do and where to meet. Don’t forget to include your pets in your evacuation plan. It’s a good idea to have a checklist you can run down so you make sure you don’t forget anyone or anything in the heat of the moment. Include a list of the people and animals that should be present, the possessions you’ll take with you, and fast actions you might take to seal up your house to prevent as much damage as possible.
A first aid kit Blankets and warm clothing A battery-powered radio and fresh batteries so that you will be able to listen to advisories if the power goes out Necessary medications A map of the region
If you’re going to be climbing or hiking near the volcano, you should bring a few survival items that will help you survive if you’re caught outside without access to shelter. You’ll need a respirator and goggles to protect your face and help you breathe. Bring long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Bring plenty of water in case you become unexpectedly trapped by a lava flow, and don’t overexert yourself. You’ll be able to react more quickly—and run for your life, if necessary—if you’re not fatigued.
The sirens will most likely be your first warning that an eruption is occurring, but you might receive other indications that something is amiss. If you see a plume of debris rising from the volcano, or if you feel an earthquake, tune in immediately. Make sure your battery-operated radio is in working order in case the power goes out. It’s an important way to stay connected and learn about updates that can affect your safety.
In recent eruptions, many people have been killed because they did not heed an evacuation order. If you are lucky enough to get advance warning, use it wisely instead of trying to hold your ground. It’s also important to evacuate the area as soon as possible after being told to do so. If you wait too long, you’ll have to deal with ash fall, which will muck up your car’s engine and make it more difficult to leave.
If you own livestock, bring them inside their shelter and close the doors and windows. If you have time, protect machinery by putting it inside a garage.
Protect yourself by staying below the ridgelines of hills and on the side of the hill opposite the volcano. If you are caught in a hail of smaller pyroclastics, crouch down on the ground, facing away from the volcano, and protect your head with your arms, a backpack, or anything else you can find.
Do not stay low to the ground, as some of the most dangerous gases are heavier than air and accumulate near the ground. Protect your eyes as well. Wear goggles if your mask doesn’t cover your eyes. Keep your skin covered with long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
Mudflows and flooding following an eruption generally kill far more people than pyroclastics or lava. You can be in danger even many miles from the volcano. Never try to cross a lava flow or lahar. Even flows that appear to be cooled may simply have formed a thin crust over a core of extremely hot lava. If you do cross a lava flow, you run the risk of being trapped between flows if another suddenly develops.
Drink only bottled water until the tap water is said to be clean. If you see ash in any water source, avoid drinking it. [3] X Research source If the ash falls for many hours, officials might advise evacuating, even after the eruption is over. That’s because ash is so heavy that it can cause roofs to collapse, creating dangerous situations for people staying indoors.
Keeping away from ash especially important for people with respiratory conditions like asthma or bronchitis. Don’t drive through areas with heavy ash fall, either. The ash will clog up your engine and ruin it. [4] X Research source
Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt and cover your mouth with a mask to avoid breathing in the ash. You might also want to wear goggles. Shovel the ash into trash bags, then seal them and dispose of them according to your community’s recommendations. Don’t turn your air conditioner on or open your vents back up until most of the ash has been cleared away.
