1. Hazards: Take Control Volcanoes By NEMO Saint Lucia

2. DISASTER RISKS FACED BY THE CARIBBEAN Source: Primer Series by the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction DISASTER RISKS FACED BY THE CARIBBEAN Source: Primer Series by the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction FIRES HURRICANES VOLCANOES FLOODS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE DEVELOP POLICIES FOR ACTIONS HAVING HIGH BENEFIT/COST FOR THE CARIBBEAN REGION GOAL: REDUCE DISASTER RISK LANDSLIDES EARTHQUAKES MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

3. The term VOLCANO signifies a mountain or hill with an opening or vent from which gaseous liquid or solid materials from the earth's interior are ejected. The term is also used for mountains, hills, or craters formed by the accumulation or removal of materials during past volcanic events even if no active vent is presently existing. Hazard: Volcanoes

4. Caldera -- a cauldron- like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters. The word comes from Spanish caldera, and this from Latin CALDARIA, meaning "cooking pot". Hazard: Volcanoes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldera http://www.escholarship.org/editions/view?docId=ft6v19p151&doc.view=con tent&chunk.id=d0e11795&toc.depth=100&anchor.id=0&brand=eschol

5. Hazard Defined

6. http://www.ict.oxon-lea.gov.uk/st_lucia_project/jlphotos/Sulphur%20Springs1.jpg Qualibou Caldera in Saint Lucia [aka Sulpher Springs]

7. LAVA FLOWS: These are flows of extremely hot molten rocks extruded by the volcano. The viscosity and high temperature make these flows very dangerous and they are capable of destroying all in their path. Hazard Defined BLASTED PROJECTILES: Large projectiles can damage buildings; if these are hot they can start fires.

8. MUD FLOWS (lahars): a dense mixture of rock debris and water originating from a volcano. The source of the water may be a crater lake, heavy rain or snow. The loose ash and volcanic fragments are transformed into a dense fluid- rock mixture that rushes down the slopes of the volcano and into surrounding valleys. Hazard Defined

9. GASES: …are released into the atmosphere from volcananic vents, degassing of soils, fumaroles and hydrothermal systems. The gases are composed mainly of water vapour, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide. They are often acidic and can be harmful even at low concentrations.

10. PYROCLASTIC FLOWS: Mixtures of hot gases, ash, fine pumice and rocks; danger lies in the density and temperature of the ash and rock fragments. Pyroclastic flows can move at very high speeds, possibly over 100 km/h. Hazards include body surface burns, inhalation injuries and asphyxia. Hazard Defined

11. TSUNAMIS: Tsunami is Japanese for “giant wave", the seismic wave that can hurtle across oceans at up to 600 miles per hour (800 km/hour). Occurrence is unpredictable and can destroy coastlines. Hazard Defined LOCAL EARTHQUAKES: Possible loss of human life and property.

12. Hazard Defined SOURE: http://volcanology.geol.ucsb.edu/gas.htm Carbon Dioxide The problem is complex, for volcanoes can help cool the earth's surface by forming sulfuric acid aerosols that reflect the sun's rays, and also contribute to global warming by giving off carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. Greenhouses (or, hot houses) are heated by the sun's rays that enter through glass or plastic, and the heat is retained inside like a parked car on a hot day with the windows rolled up. Carbon dioxide behaves like a glass shield over the earth. The sun's rays penetrate the carbon dioxide gas but the carbon dioxide shield prevents heat from escaping into the atmosphere. Sulfur Dioxide The greatest volcanic impact upon the earth's short term weather patterns is caused by sulfur dioxide gas. In the cold lower atmosphere, it is converted to sulfuric acid by the sun's rays reacting with stratospheric water vapor to form sulfuric acid aerosol layers. The aerosol remains in suspension long after solid ash particles have fallen to earth and forms a layer of sulfuric acid droplets between 15 to 25 kilometers up. Fine ash particles from an eruption column fall out too quickly to significantly cool the atmosphere over an extended period of time, no matter how large the eruption.

13. Hazard Defined SOURE: http://volcanology.geol.ucsb.edu/gas.htm Chlorine Chlorine gas can negatively effect the earth's environment. Chlorine is emitted from volcanoes in the form of hydrochloric acid (HCl), which breaks down into chlorine and chlorine monoxide (ClO) molecules. The sulfate aerosols furnish sites for chemical reactions that release the chlorine atoms. These eruption-derived chlorine atoms are added to man-produced chlorine already present in the stratosphere. The reactive chlorine atoms then proceed to destroy ozone, with each chlorine atom being recycled many times. Fluorine Fluorine gas can condense in rain or on ash particles and coats grass and pollutes streams and lakes with excess fluorine. Animals that eat grass coated with fluorine- tainted ash are poisoned. Small amounts of fluorine can be beneficial, but excess fluorine causes fluorisis, an affliction that eventually kills animals by destroying their bones.

14. THE KEY IS: 1) KNOW THE DISASTER HISTORY OF YOUR REGION 2) KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY Preparing for Volcanoes

15. Discuss the hazard with your family. Prepare a disaster plan. Know the safe zones. Prepare an evacuation plan. Don’t forget your pets! Preparing for Volcanoes

16. Very often it will be years, decades even generations before it will be safe to return to a community that has been affected by an eruption. Take as much as you can. Don’t forget your livestock!

17. Preparing for Volcanoes Alert LevelSymptomsAction by scientists (SRU) GREEN Volcano is quiescent, seismic and fumarolic (steam vent) activity are at or below the historical level at this volcano. No other unusual activity has been observed. Normal monitoring

18. Preparing for Volcanoes Alert LevelSymptomsAction by scientists (SRU) YELLOW Volcano is restless; seismicity or fumarolic activity or both are above the historical level at this volcano or other unusual activity has been observed (this activity will be specified at the time that the alert level is raised). Monitoring system will be brought up to full capability. Civil authorities alerted. Communication system tested.

19. Preparing for Volcanoes Alert LevelSymptomsAction by scientists (SRU) ORANGE Highly elevated level of seismicity or fumarolic activity or both, or other highly unusual symptoms. Eruption may occur with less than 24 hours-notice. Monitoring system continuously manned. Regular visual inspection of potential vent areas. Continuous ground deformation and hydrothermal monitoring. Daily assessment reports to civil authorities. Entry to the restricted-access zone will be permitted to scientists after an evaluation on a case-to- case basis.

20. Preparing for Volcanoes Alert LevelSymptomsAction by scientists (SRU) RED Eruption is in progress or may occur without further warning. Measurements as permitted by safety conditions. Civil authorities advised continuously.

21. “It is generally accepted that disaster mitigation pays. For example, the World Bank and United States Geological Survey once calculated that economic losses worldwide from natural disasters during the 1990s could be reduced by $280 billion if $30 billion were invested in disaster mitigation and preparedness — a ratio of $7 saved for every $1 spent.” Twigg 2001, p. 3. Preparing for Name What will you spend your $1.00 on?

22. Preparing for Volcanoes I want to urge you to act now in getting the insured household percentage up from 35%. I want to challenge you to strive at a 60% figure for this year, no matter how painful the financial cost Dr. Kenny D. Anthony Prime Minister of Saint Lucia January 16, 2005

23. The four components of an early warning system: 1.Monitor the hazard; 2.Quantify the hazard; 3.A disaster plan to address the hazard; [Volcanic Eruption Response Plan, Community Evacuation Plan, Family Disaster Plan] 4.Effective communications for warning. Early Warning Systems

24. The most common cause of death from a volcano is suffocation. There is also the risk of: Effects of Volcanoes drinking water contamination infectious disease respiratory illness burns injuries from falls vehicle accidents related to the slippery, hazy conditions caused by ash

25. Very often it will be years, decades even generations before it will be safe to return to a community that has been affected by an eruption. ALL CLEAR

27. Family Disaster Plan http://www.cdera.org/doccentre/familyplan.html Family Evacuation Plan http://stlucia.gov.lc/nemp/plans/EvacTemplate.doc Family Disaster Supplies List http://www.stlucia.gov.lc/docs/nemo/FamilyDisasterSup pliesCalendar.pdf Online Resources National Emergency Management Plan http://stlucia.gov.lc/nemp