The spectacular eruption of an undersea volcano off the coast of Tonga on March 18, 2009 reminds us that we have 169 volcanoes of our own in the United States. 18 of those are considered to be "Highly Dangerous".
It is estimate that about 500 million people live near one of the 1,500 active volcanoes in the world.
Anyone who lives within a hundred miles of a potentially active volcano should make special emergency preparations. In addition to having a well stocked portable emergency kit to use in case of the need for evacuation or to shelter in place, people living near volcanoes should consider having additonal supplies that would be particularly helpful in the case of an eruption:
- several respirators (good quality dust masks) to protect breathing
- goggles to keep dust and ash out of the eyes
Here are some more tips for surviving a volcanic eruption and its aftermath.
No matter where we live, every one of us needs to be prepared with a minimum of three days worth of emergency survival supplies. Those who live near volcanoes have one addtional reason to prudently prepare for a potential disaster. Thanks, Tonga, for the reminder....
Every Life Secure
