Countermeasures

Countermeasures to the volcanic eruption

There are multiple disastrous situations to consider when a volcanic eruption occurs. It isn’t just the volcanic ashes, its chemical components, magma that’s slowly creeping up that we should worry about. Earthquakes often occur before a volcanic eruption which means, if you are situated close to the shore, a tsunami should be expected too. Thus, there are more than just volcanic eruptions to worry about. Not to mention the toxic and acidic rain that would fall after the volcanic ashes and components get exposed into the atmosphere. So, what do we do in the case of such a disastrous event? In this section, we will inform you on how to deal with the worst scenario and possibly come out alive.

First, you will most likely experience an Earthquake of 6 or greater magnitude. Earthquakes with magnitudes that are equal to or greater than 6 would heavily damage human infrastructures and buildings. Therefore, it’s very easy to feel and spot such an earthquake. Also, this method isn’t always accurate but, sometimes earthquake clouds could appear days or hours before a major earthquake. So, keeping an eye out for signs such as strips of clouds appearing suddenly should be observed carefully. Now, after you feel the ground and surrounding objects shaking, it would be your first instinct to get out of wherever you are and head outside. However, outside, buildings and other infrastructures could collapse and injure and it is much more dangerous than a building collapsing inward. It’s important to stay away from windows and other structures that can easily shatter into small sharp pieces. Then, you should look for sturdy tents or cave-like structures such as a table. However, it should be made sure that it's a sturdy table in case the building collapses. An earthquake can’t be escaped. It is crucial that you find a way to maximize your short-term survival chance and wait for help.

Now that you’ve successfully survived an earthquake, you would most likely hear loud thunder-like roaring from afar. It’s the sound of the volcano erupting. Contrary to what most people believe, the flowing lava is not actually the leading cause of fatality in such an event. It’s actually the materials that are shot into the air from the extreme volcanic blast that causes mass death. Most notably, volcanic ash and clouds can cause respiratory issues and cover the area from the sun for a long period. When this becomes a global scale, it turns into a volcanic winter. Thus, extreme temperature drops and low visibility along with the difficulty breathing should be expected. It would be ideal to carry around wet towels or handkerchiefs to cover your mouth and nose. The moisture in the towel should further block any harmful particles from getting into your lungs. The gasses released from the volcano are carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen fluoride. These gasses will stick to the surfaces, clouds, air, and water molecules that are all around you. So, make sure you also prepare clothes that cover up most of your body. Additionally, you should beware of the sky because large chunks of volcanic rocks would be hailing down from the explosion.

If you’ve somehow made it through both the earthquake and the volcanic eruption, it’s time to look at the shore. You might see a small mountain-like structure slowly moving towards you and getting larger and larger. It’s a tsunami. Tsunami floods can reach at least a couple of kilometers inland faster than you can run. Thus, it’s important to look around for tall structures rather than trying to outrun the flood.

It is important to stay alert and pay attention to potential signs of disaster. Short-term bursts of small earthquakes could indicate an upcoming large-scale earthquake. Pair that with earthquake clouds, and you’ve got a guaranteed recipe for a disaster. Not all volcanic gas and particles can get to you so paying attention to the change of smell and sensation would be crucial to figuring out whether you are in the danger zone or not. Lastly, making sure that you find a tall structure or something sturdy to hold on to is pretty much the only way you could survive a tsunami.