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Home , Nevado del Huila, Nevado del Ruiz, Sangay, Ubinas

The Disaster Assistance Program—Helping to Save Lives Worldwide for More Than 30 Years What do you do when a sleeping volcano roars back to have allowed warnings to be received, understood, and acted life? For more than three decades, countries around the world upon prior to the disaster. have called upon the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Volcano VDAP strives to ensure that such a tragedy will never hap- Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) to contribute expertise and pen again. The program’s mission is to assist foreign partners, equipment in times of crisis. Co-funded by the USGS and the at their request, in volcano monitoring and empower them to U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of U.S. For- take the lead in mitigating hazards at their country’s threaten- eign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), VDAP has evolved ing volcanoes. Since 1986, team members have responded to and grown over the years, adding newly developed monitoring over 70 major volcanic crises at more than 50 volcanoes and technologies, training and exchange programs, and eruption have strengthened response capacity in 12 countries. The VDAP forecasting methodologies to greatly expand global capabilities team consists of approximately 20 geologists, geophysicists, and that mitigate the impacts of volcanic hazards. These advances, in engineers, who are based out of the USGS Cascades Volcano turn, strengthen the ability of the United States to respond to its Observatory in Vancouver, Washington. In 2016, VDAP was a own volcanic events. finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for VDAP was formed in 1986 in response to the devastating its work in improving volcano readiness and warning systems volcanic triggered by an eruption of worldwide, helping countries to forecast eruptions, save lives, volcano in . The mudflow destroyed the city of and reduce economic losses while enhancing America’s ability to on the night of November 13, 1985, killing more than 25,000 respond to domestic volcanic events. people in the city and surrounding areas. Sadly, the tragedy was avoidable. Better education of the local population and clear communication between scientists and public officials could

Cotopaxi erupting in 2015, southeast of Mejía Canton, . Photograph copyright Henri Leduc, used with permission.

U.S. Department of the Interior Fact Sheet 2017–3071 U.S. Geological Survey October 2017 Mexico Guatemala Tacaná El Salvador Mexico Santa Ana Montserrat Colima San Miguel Soufrière Hills Popocatépetl Saudi Arabia Philippines Dominica Harrat Lunayyir Guatemala Morne Plat Pays Pinatubo Cape Verde Taal Santiaguito Panama Mayon Fuego Fogo Barú Bulusan Pacaya Colombia Costa Rica Democratic Republic of the Congo Papua ew Guinea icaragua Nevado del Ruiz San Cristóbal Poás Nyirogongo Manam Casita Turrialba Garbuna Telica Tanania Indonesia Pago Cerro Negro Colombia Ecuador Ol Doinyo Lengai Sinabung Colo Rabaul Momotombo Ecuador -Cerro Negro Tangkubanperahu Awu Sulu Range Concepción Slamet Karangetang Dieng Soputan Merapi Lokon Raung Gamkonora Agung Gamalama Tambora Chile Egon Chaitén Cerro Hudson

World map with locations of volcanoes (red triangles) at which the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) has responded during the more than 30 years since the program’s inception.

VDAP Responses—Timely was moved or protected before the vol- a dome at the volcano’s summit, and Warnings Save Lives cano erupted just days later. radar images penetrated the clouds that On November 20, 2008, a volcanic normally block visibility. The images Successful volcano responses rely mudflow swept through the town of Belal- helped VDAP’s partners at the Indonesian on a combination of geophysical data, cázar, Colombia, as a result of eruptive Center for Volcanology and Geologic fieldwork, satellite observations, histori- activity on the nearby Nevado del Huila Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) to forecast cal analysis, and effective communica- volcano. Prior on-site and remote sup- deadly pyroclastic flows (scorching clouds tions. VDAP’s first major test was in port from VDAP allowed the Colombian of ash and rock particles that sweep 1991 in the Philippines, where Mount Geological Survey to successfully avert downhill). On October 25, local authori- Pinatubo threatened two U.S. military a repeat of the earlier Armero tragedy ties evacuated everyone living within bases, as well as villages and towns through timely warnings, an aggressive 10 kilometers (6 miles) of the summit. around the volcano where hundreds of education program, and effective com- Twenty-three hours later, explosions sent thousands of Filipinos lived. Swarms of munications. The local people were aware the first searing pyroclastic flows as far as and small explosions spurred that the volcano posed a threat and were 8 kilometers (5 miles) away. Over the fol- the Philippine Institute of Volcanology prepared to act; when the warning came, lowing 10 days, VDAP and its Indonesian and to request assistance 12,000 people evacuated the town at partners used satellite radar data to track from VDAP. Together, they installed night. the rapid extrusion of a at the monitoring networks and estimated the VDAP incorporates satellite imagery summit and forecast the potential for an potential for a cataclysmic eruption. data as another form of monitoring shared even larger event. On November 4, based With input from VDAP, the U.S. mili- with international partners. On October on the remote sensing information and tary opted to evacuate more than 15,000 22, 2010, Indonesian scientists recog- increased seismicity, CVGHM called for service personnel and dependents from nized that the frequently active Merapi evacuations to be extended to 20 kilo- Clark Air Force Base. Evacuations of volcano was experiencing earthquakes, meters (12 miles) from the summit. Just nearby towns and villages saved between gas emissions, and ground movements hours later, the largest eruption at Merapi 5,000 and 20,000 lives, and hundreds of far more intense than usual. All available in 100 years generated pyroclastic flows millions of dollars worth of equipment satellites were tasked to track growth of and surges that decimated the landscape, traveling as far as 15 kilometers (9 miles) goal of science diplomacy (see sidebar VDAP Training Courses Offer from the summit. The timely warnings “Science as a Path to Diplomacy”). Advanced Education Opportunities and evacuations during the 2010 erup- VDAP also develops new systems tions saved between 10,000 and 20,000 to better and more frequently quantify Many countries simply lack the lives. the amounts and types of gas emitted resources to educate and train scientists from volcanoes, which are key indica- in the highly specialized tasks related to volcano monitoring and interpreta- Designing Equipment That Makes tors used to forecast volcano behavior. tion. VDAP champions a multi-pronged a Difference In the past, volcano scientists have had approach to bridge this knowledge gap. to make measurements in unsafe loca- To support worldwide volcano mon- Travel grants bring scientists from around tions or fly through the volcanic plume itoring efforts, VDAP engineers assemble the world to the annual seven-week train- robust instruments that are simple to in expensive helicopters or small aircraft. ing course at the University of Hawaiʻi’s install, easy to maintain, and last for Today, VDAP scientists and engineers Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes many years. Seismic and Global Position- deploy scanning ultraviolet spectrometers on Hawaiʻi Island and in Vancouver, ing System (GPS) stations are positioned to measure the volcanic output of Washington. USGS staff and university to detect and locate subtle earthquakes dioxide—a key indicator of shallow partners serve as instructors and men- and ground movements that may signal —from afar. They also designed tors for this unique training program. VDAP also sponsors focused workshops an awakening volcano; they are designed robust gas “sniffers” (called MultiGAS) at home and abroad on topics including to run on solar energy and relay their data to determine the ratio of sulfur diox- seismology, volcanic gas emissions, in real time through low-power radios. ide to other key gases such as carbon Field engineers from partner agencies (mudflow) modeling, hazards mapping, dioxide, which reveals magma depth improve their skills in installing and volcano deformation, remote sensing, and and the pathways by which gas reaches maintaining the systems, either at home monitoring of crater lakes. USGS mentors on their volcanoes, or during a visit to the surface. Both technologies can send also assist partners in writing and publish- the Cascades Volcano Observatory. With data directly to the volcano observatory, ing their research so that they become experience, they can assist neighboring without the need for frequent servicing of the acknowledged experts for their local countries, enhancing VDAP’s secondary the instruments. volcanoes.

Merapi volcano towers above this densely populated part of central Workshops allow VDAP partners and collaborators to discuss best Java (approximately 4 million people live nearby). In 2010, the decision practices for a wide variety of situations. Here, VDAP staff and their to extend the evacuation zone from 10 kilometers (red dashed line) to 20 Indonesian colleagues review seismic data to uncover kilometers (yellow dashed line) likely saved more than 10,000 lives when characteristics that may be useful as eruption precursors. Photo by pyroclastic flows and floods (arrows) raced down the mountain. Base Jeffrey Marso, USGS. map data from Google, DigitalGlobe, 2017. Working Towards Better Eruption Forecasts Having tools to monitor and evalu- ate the signals that volcanoes produce is necessary to make successful eruption and hazard forecasts. Besides its role in equipment development, VDAP creates and distributes software that is used globally, to assist volcano observatories with data assessment and interpretation. Yet, forecasts also depend upon under- standing the outcomes of past activity at volcanoes around the world. Statistical models and supporting data serve as the tools required to make reliable fore- casts. VDAP staff work with academic researchers, volcano observatories, Installation of a telemetered, solar-powered scanning spectrometer in 2016 at Sinabung volcano in and the body of scientific publications Sumatra, Indonesia, which has been continuously erupting since 2013. The instrument measures to create new tools to predict volcano the amount of gas emitted from the volcano, which helps forecast volcanic activity. Photograph from Christoph Kern, USGS. behavior. In 2015, VDAP staff worked with Indonesian partners to estimate the years of monitoring, VDAP seismolo- to develop best practices for responses, likely duration of ongoing lava emis- gists have observed and documented communications, and alerts. Representa- sions at Sinabung volcano in northern patterns of earthquakes that occur prior Sumatra. Looking at global statistics tives meet periodically to discuss new to different kinds of volcanic activ- and using a statistical model developed insights, challenges, and developments. ity. Their pioneering research is now by university colleagues for similar The USGS and the Istituto Nazionale di incorporated into eruption forecasts, and eruptions, it was determined that activity Geofisica e Vulcanologia in Italy work helps seismologists around the world at Sinabung would likely continue at with VDAP and others to sponsor understand the causes and implica- least another three years. This forecast representatives from many countries that tions of commonly observed seismic was instrumental in helping Indonesian would otherwise lack funding to attend. phenomena. authorities decide to permanently evacu- VDAP also contributes to best-practices ate villages that were certain to remain workshops at international volcano in harm’s way in the future. Fostering Best Practices conferences, which bring together civil Another important VDAP role is Each year, new lessons are learned authorities, emergency responders, and to develop methods to interpret volcanic during volcano crises around the world. who specialize in danger- signals such as earthquakes. Through VDAP works with volcano observatories ous volcanoes around the world.

Exchanges Bring Emergency Responders Together implemented into U.S. volcano observatory operations. Partici- pants gain insights into the potential hazards and societal effects Without clear communication of hazards and risks, even the of volcanic events, and learn how to prepare for and respond to best science is insufficient to mitigate the threats from volcanic volcanic activity. eruptions. Communications protocols are developed and refined “When we went to Armero, something I’d seen and talked in response to lessons learned at volcano crises around the world about, it really drove home the point of how similar the volcano to ensure that emergency responders have the information they of Mount Rainier is to the Nevado del Ruiz volcano and the need to make wise decisions in time to make a difference. VDAP hazards that both volcanoes share. And it really opened my eyes sponsors international exchanges where emergency manag- to the things the Colombians had done that worked really well ers, first responders, and land managers from the United States and continue to this day to work really well, and the ways that visit the sites of foreign volcano disasters and learn directly we can improve our emergency systems to make sure that the from their counterparts. Foreign counterparts, in turn, visit the tragedies that happened in Armero in 1985 are not replicated United States and learn about the Incident Command System, here at Mount Rainier.” multi-agency response plans, and how new monitoring tools are —U.S. participant in the U.S.-Colombia binational exchange International Responses to address new challenges encountered then be applied in the United States. Contribute to Readiness at Home around the globe. Close collaboration Through VDAP, the USGS earns credibil- with the suite of global volcano obser- ity, worldwide recognition, and otherwise VDAP strengthens the USGS Vol- vatories results in the development of unobtainable experience. Yet VDAP cano Hazards Program and the Nation’s volcano disaster risk reduction capabili- best practices that serve as templates for would be an impossible dream without ties in numerous ways. By participating observatory protocols at home. Obser- the infrastructure, personnel, and finan- in foreign volcano responses, USGS vations at erupting volcanoes provide cial support provided by USAID/OFDA experts continually hone their skills, insights that inform conceptual models of and USGS. More than 30 years after its gaining the experience required to react how volcanoes work, spark new research inception, this unique program continues to domestic eruptions. Equipment is efforts, and spur improvements of equip- to be a critical element of global volcano continuously modified and improved ment and forecasting methods that can disaster risk reduction.

Science as a Path to Diplomacy By providing critical monitoring infrastructure, training, and ongoing consultation, VDAP aims to mitigate the risks posed by dangerous volcanoes. Close collaboration with international partners and their stakeholders inevitably results in secondary benefits: friendship, mutual trust, and goodwill. For example, after an unexpected eruption in 2008 at Chaitén volcano (Chile), VDAP assisted with the creation of a seismic network at this previously unmonitored volcano. This led to collaborative research on the volcano’s history and hazards, and a shared assessment project to prioritize needs for a national Chilean volcano monitoring system. VDAP scientists were called on to advise the government of Chile at the highest levels regarding volcano hazards monitoring and mitiga- tion. The emergence of Chile’s volcano expertise and development of a robust volcano monitoring infrastructure fol- lowed, and has also fostered engagement with Argentinean geologists to under- stand risks from some of the dangerous volcanoes that straddle the Chile-Argen- tina border. By pursuing a program of science and public safety, VDAP fosters an environment that engenders interna- tional cooperation and diplomacy.

In May 2008, heavy rains remobilized ash laid down by the recent eruption of Chaitén volcano, in southern Chile. Though the town of Chaitén (visible in photo) had been evacuated, the floods rendered much of the town uninhabitable. All streets and the nearby airport were buried in 3–6 feet of mud, and the city harbor was destroyed. During the eruption aftermath, VDAP assisted Chile with equipment installation and later co-funded an international research effort to understand the history of the volcano and the effects of the eruption on the nearby environment. In addition, VDAP advised the government of Chile on a new national strategy to reduce risk from volcanic eruptions. Satellite photograph from NASA earth observatory through the FORMOSAT-2 satellite, May 26, 2008. For more information, contact the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program U.S. Geological Survey David A. Johnston Cascades Volcano Observatory 1300 SE Cardinal Court, Bldg 10, Suite 100 The city of , Peru, is situated Vancouver, Washington, 98683-9589 on the flanks of volcano. VDAP Phone: (360) 993-8900 works with the Instituto Geofísica del Perú and the Instituto Geológico, By Jacob B. Lowenstern and David W. Ramsey Minero y Metalúrgico to mitigate volcanic hazards in the volcano- Edited by Katherine Jacques and dense south of Peru. U.S. Claire Landowski Geological Survey Design by Katherine Jacques and photograph by Vivian Nguyen John Pallister.

ISSN 2327-6916 (print) ISSN 2327-6932 (online) https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20173071