Chapter 3 – Surviving an Eruption

Listening to advisories

 

If you listen to the warning system from your local community, switch on the television or the radio to hear the warnings from the emergency department. The information will help you determine whether you are in immediate danger and understand the situation. The advisories become your eyes and help in reviewing a larger picture of the scenario. It will give you the opportunity to take the right decisions.

 

The sirens are the first warning system that portrays an eruption. However, you may also receive additional indications such as a cloud of debris rising from the volcano or an earthquake. To receive updates and accurate information, tuning the television or the radio is preferable. Ensure that the battery-powered radio is working. It is likely that you might experience power outage during the activity. The battery-powered radio becomes your communication device and helps you receive updates related to the eruption. The information that you hear affects the safety of your family. Furthermore, it will help you take appropriate decisions and plan the next course of action.

 

 

Ensure that your transportation has enough fuel to ride out of the town. Additionally, protect the vehicles with the help of covers until you leave. The cloud of ash from the volcano disrupts the optimum functioning of the vehicle. If you do not have a vehicle, make transportation arrangements with your friends and neighbors.

 

 

It becomes difficult for your pet animals to escape during a volcanic eruption. They may not find a way to escape. It is your commitment to attend to the livestock and pets and ensure their safety. As you have already implemented safety precautions to your family, ensure that you have included livestock and pets. It will help you prevent last-minute inclusions that can change the entire evacuation procedure.

 

If you did not include the livestock and pets, ensure that you find an enclosed area that offers protection. In other cases, you can find transportation arrangements to take them away from the site. Remember that most animal shelters do not have the capacity to handle all the pets. Therefore, it is your duty to protect these animals during an eruption. Furthermore, make sure that you have enough food and water supplies for the livestock.