Mt St Helens - 1980 Eruption
Today, May 18 2010, marks the 30th Anniversary of the eruption of Mount St Helens.
On May 18, 1980, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake triggered a massive collapse (debris avalanche) of the north face of the mountain. The magma that had been building inside the dome of Mount St. Helens burst forth into a large-scale pyroclastic flow that flattened vegetation and buildings over 230 square miles.
Being very unpredictable by nature, and containing such destructive power, is it actually possible to survive a volcanic explosion? FEMA offers some advice.
First of all, and most obviously, be aware if you are living in an area that may be affected by a volcano. In the United States, potentially active volcanoes are located in Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Myoming, Arizona and New Mexico. In addition to the above listed states, inactive volcanoes are also located in Nevada, Utah and Colorado.
If you live in a potentially affected area, your families survival kit needs to include the following additional items:
- Goggles
- An extra pair of Eyeglasses (for those who wear contact lenses)
- Long sleeve shirts and pants for every family member
- Dust masks
- An evacuation route out of low lying areas (away from the volcano)
It is important to take all Civil Defense Emergency Warnings seriously. Even if you need to evacuate several times due to false alarms, it’s much better than staying put and gambling with your family’s lives. You will only get to be wrong once.
If a volcano does erupt in your area, evacuate immediately to avoid flying debris, gasses, avalanches, mud slides, and lava flows.
During an eruption, if you don’t already have an emergenyc reserve of water, save water in your bath, basin, or plastic containers as local services may become damaged and your water supply polluted.
Stay indoors as much as possible. Close all doors, windows, and all ventilation (chimney vents, air conditioners, furnace vents, etc).
If you are in a heavy ash fall area you may need to clear ash from flat or low pitche roofs and gutters (if it can be done safely) to reduce the risk of your roof collapsing.
If you do need to go outside, wear long sleeve shirts and pants, a dust mask and goggles to protect your skin and keep volcanic ash out of your eyes and lungs.
Avoid running your car/truck engine as it can stir up volcanic ash which can clog ingines, damage moving parts, and cause your engine to stall. If you absolutely must drive, keep your speed to less than 35 mph.
Listen carefully to all Emergency information on your radio and take all warnings seriously. Volcanic eruptions are typically accompanied by other natural disasters such as eqrthquakes, mud slides, flash floods, rock falls and land slides, acid rain, fires, and in certain cases tsunamis.
As always, the best way to survive a natural disaster is to be prepared and have a plan.
