Evacuate or shelter in place?
 Life safety? Cause of casualties following ash fall
 Roof collapse of structures
 Falls during clean up operations
 Public Health concerns
 Airborne ash creates a respirable hazard
 Contamination of water supplies (and food?)
 Infrastructure disruption
 After the ashfall
 Infrastructure Restoration
 Clean up
 Self-evacuation from ashy areas likely
Observations from areas following ash fall
(typically >20 mm)
 Volcanic ash falls are often regarded as exotic events
(mysterious) which are rarely planned for
 Health (most important!)
 What does ash do to me….to my children?
 What will ash do to water supplies?
 What impact will it have on food?
 Infrastructure
 Electricity, transportation and water supply
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disruptions are most common
Unexpected impacts. Can they be mitigated?
Hard to clean up.
Where can I dump it?
More time & $$ than expected
 Farming
 What will ash do to my animals?
 What will ash do to my crops?
 How can I remediate the damage?
 How much Fluoride is in the ash?
Some considerations for mitigating ash fall risk
 Access to specialised, sector-specific impact,
preparedness and post-event response/recovery
information is a gap for volcanic ash preparedness
globally
 International experience suggests generally poor
awareness of hazard, the likely impacts and how to
mitigate
 Lack of preparation actions costly (time + money +
social impact)
 Trial and error approach  Delays effective response,
risks public relations ‘issues’
Health – IVHHN (www.ivhhn.org)
 Respiratory
 Water contamination
 Clean up guidelines
Infrastructure:
Sector specific posters
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Electricity – distribution & transmission
Electricity – generation
Water supply
Wastewater
Airport
Road Managers
http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Scienc
e-Topics/Volcanoes/Eruption-What-todo/Ash-Impact-Posters
Infrastructure:
Crossing-cutting posters
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Management of Buildings
GenSets/HVAC,
Computers + Electronics
Urban Clean Up
http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Learnin
g/ScienceTopics/Volcanoes/Eruption-What-todo/Ash-Impact-Posters
Agriculture
 Resources prepared before
eruption.
 Advice tailored during
eruption crises
 Likely impacts
 Provide mitigation options
 Agricultural Impacts
 http://www.mpi.govt.nz/environment
-natural-resources/fundingprogrammes/primary-sectorrecovery/volcanic-eruptions
Volcanic ash analysis protocols
 How hazardous is the ash?
 Clear, robust science using
accepted, standardised protocols
 Respiratory
 Leachate
 www.ivhhn.org
 Established pre-eruption
 Multi-agency
 Key part of risk communication
strategy
An example
Integration of scientific organisations within emergency management framework
Extends beyond volcanologists
Agriculturalists, engineers, social scientists, etc.
Public and Media
Rural
Sector
DHBs
Event
Local CDEM
MCDEM
MoH
National
Lifelines
MPI
GeoNet
National Volcanic
Science
Advisory Panel
Science information
and advice
Agency coordination
Public information
Volcanic Health
Subgroup (incl ESR)
Lifelines
(infrastructure)
Subgroup
Agriculture
Subgroup
Draft New Zealand Volcanic Advisory Science Panel: courtesy of Richard Smith – EQC