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58 ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU READY? 59

5. Check your home for structural dam- 13. Stay away from damaged area unless age. If you have any doubts about your assistance has been specifically safety, have your home inspected by a requested by police, fire or relief professional before entering. organizations.

6. Check chimneys for visual damage; 14. If you live in coastal areas, be aware however, have a professional inspect of possible , sometimes mis- the chimney for internal damage before takenly called tidal waves. When local lighting a fire. authorities issue a warning, assume that a series of dangerous 7. Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, waves is on the way. Stay away from gasoline and other flammable liquids. the beach. See the “Tsunamis” chap- Evacuate the if gasoline fumes ter for more information. are detected and the building is not well ventilated.

8. Visually inspect utility lines and appliances for damage. Volcanoes • If you smell gas or hear a hissing or blowing sound, open a window and leave. Shut off the main gas valve. Report the leak to the gas company from the nearest working phone or cell phone available. Stay out of the building. If you shut off the gas sup- ply at the main valve, you will need a professional to turn it back on. • Switch off electrical power at the main fuse box or circuit breaker if electrical damage is suspected or known. • Shut off the water supply at the main valve if water pipes are damaged. • Do not flush toilets until you know that sewage lines are intact. volcano is a vent through which 9. Open cabinets cautiously. Beware molten rock escapes to the earth’s of objects that can fall off shelves. Asurface. When pressure from gases 10. Use the phone only to report life- within the molten rock becomes too great, threatening . an eruption occurs.

11. Listen to news reports for the latest Some eruptions are relatively quiet, pro- information. ducing lava flows that creep across the land at 2 to 10 miles per hour. Explosive 12. Stay off the streets. If you must go eruptions can shoot columns of gases and out, watch for fallen objects, downed rock fragments tens of miles into the at- electrical wires, weakened walls, mosphere, spreading hundreds of bridges, roads and sidewalks. miles downwind. Lateral blasts can flatten

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY 58 ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU READY? 59

trees for miles. Hot, sometimes poisonous, eruption (a real possibility during gases may flow down the sides of the of the day when adults are at and the volcano. children are at school), have a plan for getting back together. Ask an out-of- Lava flows are streams of molten rock that town relative or friend to serve as the either pour from a vent quietly through “household contact,” because after a lava tubes or by lava fountains. Because , it’s often easier to call long of their intense , lava flows are also distance. Make sure everyone knows great fire . Lava flows destroy the name, address, and phone number everything in their path, but most move of the contact person. slowly enough that people can move out of the way. 3. Assemble a disaster supply kit (see “Emergency Planning and Disaster Fresh , made of pulverized Supplies” chapter). rock, can be harsh, acidic, gritty, glassy and odorous. While not im- 4. Get a pair of goggles and mediately dangerous to most a throw-away breathing adults, the combination of The May 18, 1980 mask for each member of the acidic gas and ash could eruption of Mount household in case of ashfall. cause lung damage to small St. Helens in 5. Do not visit an active infants, very old people or Washington took volcano site unless officials those suffering from severe the lives of 58 designate a safe viewing area. respiratory illnesses. Vol- people and caused canic ash can also damage machinery, including engines property damage and electrical equipment. in excess of $1.2 What to do during Ash accumulations mixed billion. an eruption with water become heavy and 1. If close to the volcano can collapse roofs. evacuate immediately away Volcanic eruptions can be accompanied by from the volcano to avoid flying debris, other natural hazards: , mud- hot gases, lateral blast, and lava flow. flows and flash , rock falls and land- 2. Avoid areas downwind from the vol- slides, acid , fire, and (under special cano to avoid volcanic ash. conditions) tsunamis. Active volcanoes in the U.S. are found mainly in Hawaii, 3. Be aware of . The dan- Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. ger from a increases as you approach a stream channel and decreases as you move away from a What to do before an eruption stream channel toward higher ground. In some parts of the world (Central 1. Make evacuation plans. If you live in and South America, Indonesia, the a known volcanic area, plan a Philippines), this danger also increases route out and have a backup route in with prolonged heavy . Mudflows mind. can move faster than you can walk or run. Look upstream before cross- 2. Develop a household disaster plan. In ing a bridge, and do not cross if the case household members are separated mudflow is approaching. Avoid river from one another during a volcanic valleys and low-lying areas.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY 60 ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU READY? 61

4. Stay indoors until the ash has • Keep car or truck engines off. Driv- settled unless there is danger of ing can stir up volcanic ash that the roof collapsing. can clog engines and stall vehicles. Moving parts can be damaged 5. During an ash fall, close , win- from abrasion, including bearings, dows, and all ventilation in the house brakes, and transmissions. (chimney vents, furnaces, air condi- tioners, fans and other vents). What to do after the eruption 6. Avoid driving in heavy dust unless absolutely required. If you do drive 1. Avoid ashfall areas if possible. If in dense dust, keep speed down to 35 you are in an ashfall area cover your mph or slower. mouth and nose with a mask, keep skin covered, and wear goggles to 7. Remove heavy ash from flat or low- protect the eyes. pitched roofs and rain gutters. 8. Volcanic ash is actually fine, glassy 2. Clear roofs of ashfall because it is very fragments and particles that can cause heavy and can cause to severe injury to breathing passages, collapse. Exercise great caution when eyes, and open wounds, and irritation working on a roof. to skin. Follow these precautions to 3. Avoid driving through ashfall which is keep yourself safe from ashfall: easily stirred up and can clog engines, • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long causing vehicles to stall. pants. 4. If you have a respiratory ailment, • Use goggles and wear eyeglasses avoid contact with any amount of ash. instead of contact lenses. Stay indoors until local health officials • Use a dust mask or hold a damp cloth advise it is safe to go outside. over your face to help breathing.

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