Volcanic activity – Get Prepared
Depending on the situation, you might need to stay safe by sheltering in a building, moving to a safer area, or cleaning volcanic ash.
How to prepare before volcanic activity
There are usually warning signs before an eruption. To better prepare for volcanic activity.
- Prepare your emergency kit. Learn more about what items to put in your kit, including quick and easy steps you can take right away
- Airborne and piled up ash is a major volcano hazard, so include goggles and disposable breathing masks
- Eyeglasses (not contact lenses) are recommended to protect your eyes from volcanic ash
- The International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHNN) has detailed information on volcanic ashfall health hazards, including what items should be in your emergency kit
- Make a household emergency plan. Consider the specific needs of all members of your household, including older adults, children, pets, and anyone with special health needs
- If you live near a volcano, you should have an evacuation plan
- Stay up to date on any volcanic unrest in your area
- Check if your wireless phone is compatible with Alert Ready, Canada’s emergency alerting system
Know the hazards, stay informed
There are usually warning signs before an eruption. Most volcanic eruptions follow a period of unrest, which may last anywhere from hours to years before an eruption. It can include:
- hundreds or thousands of mostly very small earthquakes
- ground deformation (swelling or sinking)
- gas emissions
Hazards near volcanoes
Many volcanic hazards are limited to areas close to a volcano, although lahars can affect people tens of km downstream, and volcanic ash and tsunamis may affect areas hundreds or thousands of km from the volcano. Volcanic hazards include:
- explosions
- debris and ash
- rockfalls
- landslides
- pyroclastic flows (superheated flows of rock, ash, and gas that travel down volcano slopes)
- lava
- lahars (volcanic debris flows and mudflows)
- floods
- earthquakes
- toxic or superheated gases, which may result in acid rain or vog (volcanic smog)
- tsunamis (which may occur at eruptions next to bodies of water)
During an eruption
Follow recommendations from your local municipal, provincial, or territorial emergency management organizations.
- Seek out information on evacuation, taking shelter, travel, and avoid specific areas near the volcano
- Official recommendations may vary depending on the type of volcanic hazards and your location
- Officials may ask you to stay inside to protect yourself from hazards that may irritate your lungs, eyes, and skin, especially if you have preexisting health issues
- Protect your indoor air by using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles
- Short-term use of well-fitting and properly worn NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator (KN95 or KF94) masks can help protect against volcanic ash but not gases
- Avoid driving to protect yourself from slippery surfaces, reduced visibility, and ash that might cover road markings, traffic signals and signs
- Remember that ash can damage windshields, engines and electronics
- You may be asked to change locations, most likely at elevated ground away from valley floors
After an eruption
Stay calm
- Seek immediate medical attention if injured
- Only make phone calls if someone's life is in danger or if they require immediate emergency assistance
- Use communication methods such as text messages to stay in touch during emergencies
- Listen to the radio, television or local social media accounts for information from local authorities and emergency officials
- Remember that you may encounter conditions that make walking or driving difficult
- Volcanic ash may:
- interfere with breathing or irritate eyes and skin
- harm pets, livestock, and other animals
- coat vegetation and damage crops
- reduce visibility
- cause scratched surfaces
- damage vehicles and aircraft
- damage or collapse roofs
- damage building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems
- clog drains
- contaminate water supplies and interfere with drinking water or sewage treatment
- damage power stations and transmission equipment
- cause other damage to buildings, machinery, and electronics
- Officials may advise you to clean up volcanic ash after it has stopped falling
- Volcanic ash becomes heavier when wet and is difficult to clean up
- Volcanic ash may blow into the air if left on the ground, which can affect people, buildings, and machinery long after an eruption
Returning to your home
- Follow any evacuation orders
- Stay outside the evacuation zone until local authorities confirm that it’s safe to return
- Work with local authorities and professional engineers to assess the structural safety of your home if damage has occurred
- Only re-enter your home once authorities have ensured it’s safe
- Date modified: