Volcanic Eruption
Volcanic activity poses an immediate threat to those in the surrounding area. An eruption may destroy property and access to utilities, while cutting off roads and means of transportation. Air quality and visibility may be greatly reduced, falling ash may injure skin, eyes, and breathing passages, and water supplies may become contaminated. If you live in an area prone to volcanic activity, keep up to date with the technology and means to receive local alerts and be prepared to quickly evacuate.
Download the FEMA App, and sign up for Community Alerts and the Volcano Notification Service.
While active volcanic activity is most commonly confined to specific areas such as Hawaii and Indonesia, they have the potential to greatly disrupt the surrounding terrain, as did the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, which was the worst recorded volcanic eruption in United States history and killed 57 people.
Volcanic eruptions can occasionally affect sunlight and air quality for large swaths of the planet, as we saw in 2010 when the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland caused the greatest interruption to European air travel since WWII. While the Yellowstone Caldera (measuring 43 by 28 miles) hasn’t erupted in over 600,000 years, it remains an active threat to the world’s population.
Volcano Stockpiles Should Include:
The Basics
Refer to the Basic Stockpile List, including all items for Evacuating and Sheltering In Place.
Take special note of the following items: NOAA radio, water, fire extinguisher, protective clothing, vehicle supplies, cleaning supplies, important documents, plastic sheeting, duct tape
N95 Respirators
N95 Respirators / What to know?
Use an N95 respirator for post-disaster cleanup. While plenty of face masks exist on the market, only N95 respirators provide medical-grade protection against infectious droplets and hazardous air particles. A proper N95 respirator will be National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approved and FDA cleared for medical use. Non-FDA cleared masks are generally designed for industrial purposes that do not consider medical uses.
Note that:
• N95 means the respirator is capable of blocking out 95% of particulates in the air when properly worn.
• Despite the confusing name, a KN95 is not an N95 respirator. KN95s are unregulated and the majority provide inferior filtration.
• Avoid exhalation valves, which defeat the respirator’s ability to protect others from you.
• Pay close attention to authenticity given rampant counterfeits.
N95 Respirators / Where To Buy?
Air Purifier
An air purifier can help maintain air quality after an eruption. Look for High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) certified filters, which can trap 99.7% of particles as small as .3 microns (the size of most penetrating air particles). Portable air filters can be moved from room to room, while others can be installed directly within your HVAC system.
You should also check to make sure your air conditioner comes equipped with high efficiency filters.
Insulation
Install weather strips around doors and windows to maintain the air quality inside your home.
Use plastic sheeting and duct tape to cover any openings.
