Washington State: Volcano Awareness Month

 

 

U.S. Volcanoes and Current Activity Alerts

 

# 6330

 

 

While Alaska and Hawaii are famed for their volcanic activity, it may come as a surprise to many Americans that the United States has 169 `active’ volcanoes within its borders, with about 40 of those in the `lower 48’ states.

Washington is one of the states with a large number of volcanoes, and so May has been proclaimed Volcano Awareness Month.

 

The Washington State EMD (Emergency Management Division) has advice and information for those living in close proximity of volcanoes.

 

News / Activities:
USGS / EMD Volcano Awareness Month Announcement

USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory

Preparedness for Volcano Hazards

In English PDF
In Spanish PDF
In Russian PDF
In Korean PDF
In Chinese PDF
In Vietnamese PDF

What To Do: During an eruption and ashfall (see page #2) (PDF)

How to Shelter-in-Place (PDF)     

Shelter-in-Place Video (Quicktime Required)

 

 

From the USGS we have a FAQ with that addresses many of the questions the public may have about volcanoes in the United States.  A brief snippet below, but follow the link to read it in its entirety.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Volcano Monitoring

To anticipate the awakening or reawakening of a volcano, volcanologists watch for changes caused by moving or pressurizing magma and associated changes in the hydrothermal system surrounding the magma. Magma moving toward the surface can cause swarms of earthquakes; swelling, subsidence, or cracking of the volcano's flanks; and changes in the amount or types of gases that are emitted from a volcano. The USGS continuously monitors many volcanoes in the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Alaska, and Wyoming (Yellowstone) to detect unusual activity.

Q: Why is it important to monitor volcanoes?

A: The United States and its territories contain 169 geologically active volcanoes, of which 54 volcanoes are a very high or high threat to public safety [National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS)]. Many of these volcanoes have erupted in the recent past and will erupt again in the foreseeable future. As populations increase, areas near volcanoes are being developed and aviation routes are increasing. As a result, more people and property are at risk from volcanic activity. Future eruptions could affect hundreds of thousands of people. To help prevent loss of life and property, the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners monitor these volcanoes, and issue warnings of impending eruptions.

Real-time monitoring of volcanoes, with the use of volcano seismology, gas, thermal, and surface deformation measurements, permits scientists to anticipate with varying degrees of certainty, the style and timing of an eruption. While our present state of knowledge does not allow us to predict the exact time and place of eruptions, we can detect changes from usual behavior that precede impending eruptions. We communicate these changes in our volcano updates. The information in the volcano updates allows scientists, public officials, and people in communities at risk to make preparations that can reduce losses during an eruption. Because volcanoes can erupt with little warning, continuous monitoring is important even if a volcano is not showing signs of activity.

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While major volcanic eruptions on the U.S. mainland are rare events, they have the potential to be extremely disruptive when they do occur. 

 

For that reason, emergency planners urge:

 

Before a volcanic eruption:

• Plan ahead. Have emergency supplies, food and water stored. 
• Plan an evacuation route away from rivers or streams that may carry lahars.
• Keep a battery-operated radio available at all times.
• If there is an eruption predicted, monitor the radio or TV for information. Follow the advice given by authorities.

 

Note: Lahars are debris or mud flows from a volcano, and can be particularly dangerous. 

 

 

While it may sound a bit like a broken record, the advice for citizens to be prepared – whether it be for a volcanic eruption, tsunami, earthquake, or some other disaster – continues to ring forth from numerous federal, state and local agencies.

 

They know that during any serious disaster that emergency services will be severely strained, and that during the opening hours and even days, many people will have to fend for themselves.

 

 

The government takes these threats seriously, and so should you. To learn more on how to prepare for any type of disaster, visit Ready.gov and FEMA.

 

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National Survey On Pandemic Awareness & Attitudes

 

 

 

# 6009

 

 

A survey out today, conducted by the Ecohealth Alliance, suggests that while many Americans worry about global disease outbreaks, few have good a good understanding about how, or from where, the next global health threat is likely to emerge.

 

 

First a link to the press release, followed by a link to the survey (very much worth reading).

 

EcoHealth Alliance Survey Analyzes Americans' Fear of Global Disease Outbreaks

Survey Respondents Lack Knowledge of How and Why Outbreaks Occur

NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- EcoHealth Alliance, a U.S. science-based nonprofit organization, announced the results of a just released survey that polled Americans' knowledge surrounding global disease outbreaks.  Results showed that more than two in three Americans (68%) worry about global disease outbreaks.  When polled about how and why the next big outbreak will happen and what causes them, Americans (88%) receive a failing grade when it comes to their knowledge on the subject.  Survey findings show that less than one in five Americans (17%) know that the next big disease outbreak is most likely to be transmitted from wildlife, according to EcoHealth Alliance.  "Around 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals and then can spread to humans," said Dr. Peter Daszak, President of EcoHealth Alliance.  "The key to stopping global disease outbreaks is to protect wildlife and reduce our impact on their habitats.  Until citizens, scientists and governments focus on points of origin, we're at risk for a major outbreak."

 

While most Americans know that overpopulation and air travel contribute to global disease outbreaks, less than half know that contributing factors also include international wildlife trade (40%), climate change (33%), agricultural expansion (30%), deforestation (29%) and hunting (10%).  "Changes to the environment, including deforestation, intensive agricultural practices, bushmeat hunting, illegal wildlife trade, climate change and the encroachment of human populations on formerly untouched wild habitats are all factors contributing to disease spread," said Dr. Daszak.  "Disruptions to an environment from global travel and trade can bring viruses from the other side of the globe right to our very doorstep here in the U.S. within days of an outbreak."

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The 23-page PDF with the full survey results can be downloaded via this Link.

 

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Cambodia: Promoting Bird Flu Awareness

 

# 4690

 

 

 

Just a few years ago, for many villagers in places like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, it would have been unthinkable to believe that their chickens could make them sick.   

 

Families had raised these birds for generations without ill effect, and so convincing them that H5N1 is a threat isn’t easy.  

 

In 2007 the NGO CARE conducted a poll in Cambodia to gauge perceptions among villagers about the dangers of bird flu, and recently re-polled to see if these perceptions had changed in three years.

 

While progress has been made, more than 20% of respondents would still kill and eat a sick chicken.

 

A hat tip to RoRo on FluTrackers for this report from the Phnom Penh Post.

 

 

Project seeks H5N1 awareness

Thursday, 01 July 2010 15:00 Khoun Leakhana

POULTRY farmers in three border provinces exhibited improved awareness of avian influenza following the introduction of a village-based education project, though in some areas more than 20 percent still say they would eat an animal found to be infected with the disease, according to survey results released this week.

 

The survey was conducted in three provinces – Prey Veng, Svay Rieng and Koh Kong – as part of a programme led by the NGO CARE International. Overall, it found that the farmers benefited from education efforts implemented by Village Surveillance Teams, or VSTs.

 

In 2007, farmers were interviewed in order to assess their understanding of the A(H5N1) influenza virus, commonly known as bird flu. In particular, the initial interviews assessed the farmers’ knowledge of how the virus spreads to humans and how diseased poultry should be disposed of.

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THEY’RE NOT ONLY PROTECTING THE BIRDS. THEY’RE PROTECTING THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

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When they were interviewed again at the end of a three-year pilot programme in 2009, the farmers demonstrated that they were better equipped to deal with avian flu cases.

 

In villages in Prey Veng and Svay Rieng, for example, the number of respondents who said they would kill and eat a bird if they were to find it sick was nearly halved, from 43 to 23 percent, according to the survey.

 

“We saw that there was a behaviour change,” said Cecilia Dy, CARE’s avian influenza project coordinator.

 

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While they don’t get a lot of publicity, health education campaigns such as these by NGO’s like  CARE, SAVE THE CHILDREN, Humanitarian Pandemic Preparedness H2P  and others are taking place in remote regions all around the world.

 

These projects not only help to protect the people living in those countries, but they also help protect the world.

 

Every time a virus like H5N1 is denied a human host, it is also denied another opportunity to mutate and adapt to humans.

 

Something worth considering the next time you think about where your charitable contributions will go this year.

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