Volcano Safety: Protecting Your Family Before, During & After an Eruption

The United States is home to 169 active volcanoes—meaning they've erupted sometime in the past and could erupt again. Most are in Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest, but their effects can reach far beyond those regions. Ash and smoke can travel hundreds of miles, disrupting air quality, transportation, and even daily routines in distant states.

Before the volcano eruption

If you don't need to leave your home during the current eruption, use this time to plan ahead. Another eruption could mean you'll need to evacuate quickly—being ready now can make a big difference.

Prepare a disaster supplies list and "go bag"

Pack items your family will need if you have to leave in a hurry. In your emergency kit, include:

• an extra supply of important daily medications, medical equipment and supplies

• respirators/N95 masks and goggles

• important documents and IDs, such as health insurance cards

• first aid supplies

• flashlights, a battery powered radio, fire extinguisher and spare batteries.

• at least 3 days of food and water for each family member.

• a list of emergency contacts

It is also important to identify potential evacuation routes and reunification sites.

During & after the eruption

Limit outdoor hazards

• Avoid going outdoors if conditions are poor unless there is a medical emergency or need for evacuation.

• If an eruption was close to your community or caused nearby fires, watch out for hazards. Examples include piles of hot ash or flowing lava, dangerous debris with glass or sharp metals, unstable structures (such as buildings at risk of collapsing), hot surfaces that may cause burns (including any ground you may be walking on) and dry lands that could catch fire from embers.

• Do not directly breathe in smoke and ash even for a short amount of time and avoid direct contact with ashes. Wear goggles for eye protection.

• Properly fitted masks, especially respirators or N95 masks, are very helpful. They reduce breathing of pollutants found in smoke and ash.
  

  Most adults and older children can wear fitted respirators. However, infants, young children and some children with certain underlying health conditions or developmental concerns should not wear a respirator mask. Ask your pediatrician or doctor which mask is appropriate for your child and can prevent breathing in the pollution in smoke and ash.
  
  If your child cannot not wear a respirator or N95 mask, you can briefly wrap them in a blanket, creating a small air pocket for breathing, when taking them outdoors to get to your vehicle to evacuate. You can also briefly use a child paper mask (like a surgical mask) in addition to wrapping them in the blanket.

• If you must travel by car during or after a volcanic eruption close to your home, make sure all the windows are closed, seal all leaks with tape if possible and run the AC with internal air only. Do not circulate outdoor air. Check on young children frequently to make sure they are breathing well.

• Before going outside, check the air quality. Air quality describes how clean or polluted the air in a specific location is. You can check your neighborhood air quality to know when it is safe to go outdoors or when you should stay at home.

• Avoid going outdoors if the air quality is poor unless there is an emergency, or you need to evacuate. If the air quality is in the green zone or less than 50, it is safe to go outdoors. If the air quality is greater than 100 (orange zone) or 150 (red zone), it may not be safe to go outdoors.
  

  It is most important for young children and children with chronic breathing issues to limit time outdoors when the air quality is more than 100 (orange zone), and especially when it is greater than 150 (red zone). You can check the air quality here.
  

Be ready to evacuate

Depending on your location, authorities may advise you to evacuate or stay indoors (shelter in place). Some volcanic eruptions are too dangerous for sheltering in place.

• Keep monitoring emergency updates. Increasing downpour of ash may make your area unsafe to live very quickly. Follow the free Volcano Notification System for detailed and timely updates. Sign up for alerts here.

• Keep in mind that you may also need to evacuate if your home cannot protect against smoke and ash exposure. This could be because of leaks that allow smoke or ash to come indoors or old home structural issues.

• If evacuation is being considered, discuss which roads are safe to travel and which roads should be avoided. Also decide where you would go, and what would you take with you. Remember you may not be allowed to return to your home until it is considered safe.

• If evacuating, be sure to drive carefully; ash makes road surfaces slippery and visibility low. Keep the windows up and do not operate the air conditioning system (AC) or run with the AC with internal air only. Wear N95 respirators and goggles to protect from ash and smoke.

Know when is it safe to return home

• If your home is in a mandatory evacuation area, you can return home once approved by the local authority. Monitor emergency information from battery operated radios, TVs, or text alerts from local authorities about when the volcano and air quality are no longer a threat, and it is safe to return. The local authority will provide information about the safe routes to return.
  
  
• Remember that while your residence may be safe to live in, it may not have basic utilities. It can be challenging to take care of children if there is no water/electricity or when drainage and sewage systems are not working. You may need to consider delaying your return home for full-time living.
  
  
• If your home and/or property were directly damaged by the fire, smoke or ash, it may be too dangerous for your family to live there. Your local authorities will review homes and properties before you are allowed to return to visit. Call your home insurance company and check with local authorities to ensure that your home and property are not overlooked.
  
  
• If the local authorities determine that your home and property are "structurally sound," be aware that utilities buried underground may be damaged. This will require special inspections that you will be responsible for arranging. Utilities underground may include water, sewer, electric, gas, and septic disposal. Without proper inspections, these utilities should not be used.
  
  
• Check your home for smoke or ash damage to know if surfaces need special cleaning or replacement. Also be aware that some harmful pollutants can’t be seen by the naked eye. Closely follow instructions from local authorities or have trained, knowledgeable professionals do the cleaning.
  
  Inspections are needed to make sure your home is safe and meets building codes. If you have concerns about anything that may have been damaged, contact your local authorities for guidance.
  

Once you return home

Be aware of food & water hazards.

• Follow your local authorities' recommendations on where garbage and refuse should be collected. If your refrigerator or freezer was without power for more than 24 hours, all contents will need to be discarded. Food that ash settled on, such as cans and jars, will need to be washed before opening; other package goods should be discarded. Throw out food with an unusual smell, color, or texture.
  
  
• Use only approved water sources or bottled water or brought-in bulk water. If you have questions about a source, contact your local authorities. Use only approved water sources to make baby formula, prepare or wash food or wash your hands and utensils.
  

Improve & maintain air quality.

• To help keep smoke and ash out, cover all cracks or gaps with blankets; then tape these areas to create a seal. Remember to close all air vents and chimneys. If smoke or ash particles are getting inside the home, try to identify the source.

• Don't open your windows and doors often or for long periods of time.

• Keep your home air ventilation system on throughout the day. You may need to change the filters more frequently if there is smoke or ash near your home.

• If you have an air purifier device, run it in a small room, especially where you and your family are spending the most time or sleeping. Note: the best air quality in your home may be in an interior room without windows that is above ground level.
  

• Keep monitoring emergency updates, as increasing downpour of ash may make your area unsafe to live in again very quickly.
  

Clean up safely indoors.

• When cleaning up ash, wear protective gear like goggles, gloves, respirator masks, long sleeves and pants to avoid any direct contact with the ash. When cleaning the smoke dust particles inside the home, try not to accidentally get the ash or dust into the air.
  
  
• Avoid dusting and/or vacuuming. You can use wet paper towels to grip the dust and directly throw this out in a plastic bag. Seal the plastic bag when done and dispose of it. There are also special vacuums built with strong filters, called HEPA filters, that are safe to use.
  

Clean outdoor areas safely.

• Before letting your children outside in the backyard or property, inspect and clean all areas where they may encounter ash.
  
  
• Use the same same safety precautions as when cleaning indoors. This includes wearing goggles, gloves, respirators, full sleeves and pants.
  
  
• You can gently mist the ash with water and sweep with a broom or wet mop. Make sure to clean your cars, all the outdoor furniture, and outdoor toys.
  
  
• Don't use blowers! Collect the ash in one area and dispose in a plastic bag.

Know when to seek medical care

If you have an infant or child with a chronic health condition (such as asthma, chronic lung disease, heart disease or cancer) or another disease that makes them sensitive to smoke and ash, monitor them closely for symptoms.

You will need to know the difference between symptoms that signal mild concerns versus an emergency. If you do not know these already, talk to your child's pediatrician as soon as possible. Below are some general recommendations.

What is not an emergency?

If your child develops these symptoms, try to minimize smoke and ash exposure further. If your child's symptoms do not improve after a few hours, or are getting slightly worse, call your pediatrician for advice.

• Frequent coughing without or with very little difficulty breathing.

• Discomfort or irritability (not severe) from sneezing, burning or stinging of the nose, throat and eyes, with concern that child is not eating/drinking as well as before.

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded but never fainting.

What is an emergency?

If your child develops these symptoms below, seek care immediately.

• Severe chest tightness or pain that is not getting better or is getting worse.

• Severe shortness of breath, child is grunting or bobbing their head with labored breathing or breathing harder and faster over time.

• Fainting for more than a few seconds and/or not acting normally after fainting.

• Lethargy – the child is not waking up for eating, drinking, or other activities and they are difficult to wake up with stimulation.
  

• Turning blue around mouth

• Multiple burns or a severe burn

What to do when your children return home

Provide supervision and structure.

Schools and child care facilities may be closed for some time after a volcanic eruption. Children's usual play areas, such as playgrounds or parks, may be damaged or unusable. Adults who helped watch your children before may not have returned yet, or they may be busy repairing their own homes.

• Keep in mind that children do better with predictable routines. If they are not able to return to school or child care, set routines within the home, such as a regular time for meals and bedtime.
  
  
• Try to limit the amount of time you are separated from your children. When you do have to leave children in someone else's care, be sure to let them know when you will return.
  
  
• Expect that familiar surroundings may be less familiar. Volcanic eruptions and resulting fires can destroy buildings, roads and trees. While it is often comforting to be able to return home, some of the nearby damage can be upsetting to children and adults. You and your children may experience loss and change for weeks and months afterwards.
  

Talk to your children about what's happening and how they are feeling.

Choosing not to talk about what has happened makes the event even more frightening for children. Silence suggests that what happened is too horrible to speak about. Children may feel it is not okay to ask questions or talk about their reactions.

• Start by asking your children what they have already heard about the events. Ask them how they feel about what is happening and whether they have any fears or concerns.
  
  
• Correct any misinformation. Provide appropriate but honest reassurance. Remind children of the steps being taken to keep them safe and rebuild the community.

Explain in simple, direct language what has happened and what you expect to happen.

• The amount of information that will be helpful to children depends on their age, developmental level and typical coping style. In general, older children want, and will benefit from, more detailed information than younger children. Take cues from your children as to how much information to provide.

• For children of all ages, do not provide too many details or share graphic images or emotional coverage (such as interviews with crying victims on news from television or online sources).

Limit media exposure, including television, radio, print and social media.

This is especially important for younger children, but also for adults.

• After a disaster is a good time for everyone to unplug and spend time together with friends and family.
  
  
• If children are exposed to media, view it with them and offer reassuring explanations and answer any questions.

Ask children what questions, feelings, worries, and concerns they may have (but don't force the issue).

• Do not tell children they shouldn't be worried. Help them learn how to deal with distressing feelings rather than pretend that these feelings do not or should not exist.

• Continue to ask questions and offer to talk with your children, but do not force them to respond. Generally, it is best to wait until children accept the invitation to talk. Stay present physically and emotionally so children know you are ready to talk when they are. If you are worried about your children's safety or well-being, reach out to your pediatrician or another professional and ask them to speak with your children.

• Look for changes in behavior that suggest your child is having difficulty coping. It is common for children to experience changes in sleep (difficulty falling or staying asleep, nightmares, trouble waking in the morning) or eating (such as decreased appetite or over-eating) after a disaster. They may struggle with fears or anxiety (including a fear of returning to school), social withdrawal, sadness or depression, new hyperactivity, substance use (alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs) or physical complaints (such as headache, stomachache or feeling tired).
  
  
• Keep in mind that future volcano warnings (or anniversaries of the event) or fires can be triggers. Even if they aren't related to volcanic eruption, these events remind children of the volcanic eruption, which can increase feelings of distress. If these reactions continue over time, become severe, or affect your children's ability to learn and socialize, contact your pediatrician or another professional. Most children who are experiencing distress, though, may not appear upset or show any change in behavior.

Consider sharing your feelings about the disaster with your children.

This is an opportunity for you to role model how to cope with distress and disappointment.

• Share coping strategies that work for you. You might describe talking to friends or family, writing your thoughts in a journal, or using art or music to express your feelings. Some people use exercise, dance, yoga or relaxation techniques and mindfulness to cope with strong emotions.

Monitor how you are doing and take care of yourself.

• Children depend on the adults around them to be and feel safe and secure. If you are anxious or angry, children are likely to be more affected by your emotional state or actions than by your words.

Help children grieve if they have experienced the death of someone close.

• Download a free booklet with advice for parents and other caring adults on how to support grieving children. Children also grieve other losses, such as the loss of their home, missing a friend who moved away, or being unable to return to school.
  

Help children find meaningful ways to help.

Recognize that recovery takes time.

• Pace yourself and your family. Cleaning and rebuilding a home and community after a volcanic eruption can take months or more. It often takes even longer for children and families to adjust.
  
  
• Expect that there will be ups and downs, celebrations and setbacks along the way. The character of the community often changes from what it was before the disaster.

Contact your child's pediatrician and school.

• If you have concerns about your children's health, adjustment or behavior, reach out to their pediatrician and teachers. Concentration and learning are often difficult after a disaster. Make sure that children receive appropriate support and accommodations at school.
  
  
• If school expectations are more than your child's current ability to learn, school can become a source of distress rather than support and assistance. Talk with your children's teacher or a school mental health professional about how to get support.

More resources

• Disasters and Your Family: Be Prepared

• How to Build a Disaster Emergency Kit for Your Family

• Volcanoes https://www.ready.gov/volcanoes

• Safe Clean Up of Ash (California Department of Public Health)
  

Samarth Rabadiya, Brian E. Costello, MD, Deanna Dahl Grove, MD, FAAP, David J Schonfeld, MD, FAAP contributed to this article.