Mitigation Measures for a future Mt Fuji Eruption: Ash impacts

Evacuate or shelter in place?Life safety? Cause of casualties following ash fall

Roof collapse of structuresFalls during clean up operations

Public Health concernsAirborne ash creates a respirable hazardContamination of water supplies (and food?)Infrastructure disruption

After the ashfallInfrastructure RestorationClean up

Self-evacuation from ashy areas likely

Observations from areas following ash fall (typically >20 mm)

Health (most important!) What does ash do to me….to my children? What will ash do to water supplies? What impact will it have on food?

Infrastructure Electricity, transportation and water supply

disruptions are most common Unexpected impacts. Can they be

mitigated? Hard to clean up. Where can I dump it? More time & $$ than expected

Farming What will ash do to my animals? What will ash do to my crops? How can I remediate the damage? How much Fluoride is in the ash?

Volcanic ash falls are often regarded as exotic events (mysterious) which are rarely planned for

Some considerations for mitigating ash fall risk

Access to specialised, sector-specific impact, preparedness and post-event response/recovery information is a gap for volcanic ash preparedness globally

International experience suggests generally poor awareness of hazard, the likely impacts and how to mitigate

Lack of preparation actions costly (time + money + social impact)

Trial and error approach Delays effective response, risks public relations ‘issues’

Health – IVHHN (www.ivhhn.org)RespiratoryWater contaminationClean up guidelines

Infrastructure:Sector specific posters

Electricity – distribution & transmissionElectricity – generationWater supplyWastewaterAirportRoad Managershttp://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/

Science-Topics/Volcanoes/Eruption-What-to-do/Ash-Impact-Posters

Infrastructure:Crossing-cutting posters

Management of BuildingsGenSets/HVAC, Computers + ElectronicsUrban Clean Uphttp://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/

Learning/Science-Topics/Volcanoes/Eruption-What-to-do/Ash-Impact-Posters

AgricultureResources prepared

before eruption. Advice tailored during

eruption crises

Likely impactsProvide mitigation

options

Agricultural Impacts http://www.mpi.govt.nz/

environment-natural-resources/funding-programmes/primary-sector-recovery/volcanic-eruptions

Volcanic ash analysis protocolsHow hazardous is the ash?Clear, robust science using

accepted, standardised protocolsRespiratoryLeachate www.ivhhn.org

Established pre-eruptionMulti-agency

Key part of risk communication strategy

Agency coordination

Science information and advice

Public information

RuralSector

MCDEM MoH MPINationalLifelinesLocal CDEM

DHBs

Public and Media

Volcanic HealthSubgroup (incl ESR)

Agriculture Subgroup

National Volcanic Science

Advisory Panel

GeoNet

Event

Draft New Zealand Volcanic Advisory Science Panel: courtesy of Richard Smith – EQC

Lifelines (infrastructure)

Subgroup

Integration of scientific organisations within emergency management framework

Extends beyond volcanologists Agriculturalists, engineers, social scientists, etc.

An example