Alor Dive will offer you some
first information in preparing for a volcanic eruption.
You can do many things to protect yourself and your family/friends/colleagues
from the dangers a volcanic eruption can cause. The best way to do protect
yourself and your family/friends/colleagues is to follow the advice of
local officials. Local authorities will provide you with information on
how to prepare for a volcanic eruption, and if necessary, on how to evacuate
(leave the area) or take shelter where you are.
How to prepare:
Develop an evacuation plan for yourself in consideration of the evacuation
plan for our hotel.
Review the plan and make sure that everyone understands it.
If you havent already done so, put together an emergency supply
kit. Supplies should include the following:
Flashlight and extra batteries
First aid kit and manual
Emergency food and water
Manual (nonelectric) can opener
Essential medicines
Sturdy shoes
Respiratory (breathing) protection
Eye protection (goggles)
Battery-powered radio
Exposure to ash can harm your health, particularly the breathing
tract!
To protect yourself while you are outdoors or while
you are cleaning up ash that has gotten indoors, use an N-95 disposable
respirator (also known as an air purifying respirator). N-95
respirators can be purchased at businesses such as hardware stores. It
is important to follow directions for proper use of this respirator.
If you dont have an N-95 respirator, you can
protect yourself by using a nuisance dust mask as a last resort, but you
should stay outdoors for only short periods while dust is falling.
Nuisance dust masks can provide comfort and relief from exposure to relatively
non-hazardous contaminants such as pollen, but they do not offer as much
protection as an N-95 respirator.
If you are told to evacuate:
Follow authorities instructions if they tell you to leave the area.
Though it may seem safe to stay at the hotel and wait out an eruption,
doing so could be very dangerous. Volcanoes spew hot, dangerous gases,
ash, lava, and rock that are powerfully destructive.
Preparing to evacuate:
Tune in the radio or television for volcano updates.
Listen for disaster sirens and warning signals.
Review your emergency plan and gather your emergency supplies. Be
sure to pack at least a 1-week supply of prescription medications.
Prepare an emergency kit for your vehicle with food, flares, booster
cables, maps, tools, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, sleeping
bags, a flashlight, batteries, etc.
Fill your vehicles gas tank.
If no vehicle is available, make arrangements with friends or colleagues
for transportation, or follow authorities instructions on where
to obtain transportation.
Place vehicles under cover, if at all possible.
Fill your clean water containers.
Fill sinks and bathtubs with water as an extra supply for washing.
Adjust the thermostat on refrigerators and freezers to the coolest
possible temperature. If the power goes out, food will stay cooler
longer.
Put livestock in an enclosed area. Plan ahead to take pets with
you, but be
aware that many emergency shelters cannot accept animals.
As you evacuate:
Take only essential items with you, including at least a 1-week
supply of prescription medications.
If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water.
Disconnect appliances to reduce the likelihood of electrical shock
when power is restored.
Make sure your automobiles emergency kit is ready.
Follow designated evacuation routesothers may be blockedand
expect heavy traffic and delays.
As you evacuate:
Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told all
is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local authorities may evacuate
specific areas at greatest risk in your community.
Close and lock all windows and outside doors.
Turn off all heating and air conditioning systems and fans.
Close the fireplace damper.
Organize your emergency supplies and make sure family members and
friends know where the supplies are.
Make sure the radio is working.
Go to an interior room without windows that is above ground level.
Bring your pets with you, and be sure to bring additional food and
water supplies for them.
It is ideal to have a hard-wired (non-portable) telephone in the
room you select. Call your emergency contacta friend or family
member who does not live near the volcanoand have the phone
available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. Remember
that telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.