Volcanic eruptions can hurl hot rocks for at least 20 miles. Floods, airborne ash, or noxious fumes can spread 100 miles or more. Since we live near known active volcanoes, be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice.
Precautions
Learn about your community warning systems. Be prepared for disasters that can be spawned by volcanoes such as earthquakes, flash floods, landslides and mudflows, thunderstorms and tsunamis.
Make evacuation plans. You want to get to high ground away from the eruption. Plan a route out and have a backup route in mind. Develop an emergency communication plan.
In case family members are separated from one another during a volcanic eruption (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together. Ask an out-of-state or -country relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person.
Have disaster supplies on hand. Click here to go to the Emergency Preparedness Page.
Get a pair of goggles and a throw-away breathing mask for each member of the household.