Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Prepared by:
Adam Munro
David Parkin
For:
Environment Waikato
PO Box 4010
HAMILTON EAST
26 May 1999
ISSN: 1174-7234
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
iii
1 Introduction
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
Geological Studies
Planning
Scientific Alert Levels and Science Alert Bulletins
Monitoring
Satellite Remote Sensing
3
3
6
6
7
Tephra Falls
3.1.1 People
3.1.2 Agriculture and Horticulture
3.1.3 Building Structures
3.1.4 Electricity
3.1.5 Water Supply
3.1.6 Wastewater Networks (Stormwater Drainage and Sanitary Sewers)
3.1.7 Sewage Treatment Plants
3.1.8 Gas
3.1.9 Transportation
3.1.10Communications
3.1.11Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic Equipment
3.2 Mitigation Measures for Tephra Fallout
3.2.1 People
3.2.2 Agriculture and Horticulture
3.2.3 Building Structures
3.2.4 Electricity
3.2.5 Water Supply
3.2.6 Wastewater Networks (Stormwater Drainage and Sanitary Sewers)
3.2.7 Sewage Treatment Plants
3.2.8 Transportation
3.2.9 Mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment
3.2.10Ash Disposal
3.2.11Detailed Mitigation Measures
3.3 Ballistic Fallout
3.3.1 Mitigation Measures for Ballistic Fallout
3.4 Lahars
3.4.1 Mitigation Measures for Lahars
3.5 Pyroclastic Flows
3.5.1 Mitigation Measures for Pyroclastic Flows
3.6 Pyroclastic Surges
3.6.1 Mitigation Measures for Pyroclastic Surges
3.7 Directed Volcanic Blasts
3.7.1 Mitigation Measures for Volcanic Blasts
3.8 Lava Flows
3.8.1 Mitigation Measures for Lava Flows
3.9 Debris Avalanches
3.9.1 Mitigation Measures for Debris Avalanches
3.10 Volcanic Gases
3.10.1Mitigation Measures for Volcanic Gases
3.11 Tsunamis and Seiches
3.11.1Mitigation Measures for Tsunamis and Seiches
3.12 Flooding
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Page i
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References
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Table of Figures
Figure 1: Summary of volcanic hazards from a composite cone volcano
(after Myers et al., 1997)
1
Figure 2: Volcanic hazard management during non-crisis (pre-eruption) and
crisis (during an eruption) periods (after Johnston and Houghton, 1995).
2
Figure 3: Summary of the applications of remote sensing for volcanology (after
Oppenheimer, 1997).
8
Figure 4: Ash from Mount Ruapehu carried by southeasterly winds over Lake Taupo
during the 1995-1996 Ruapehu eruptions.
9
Figure 5: The interaction of volcanic gases during an eruption (after Johnston, 1997a).
25
Figure 6: An eruption from Mount Ruapehu on 8 July 1996.
53
Figure 7: Question 2 -What category do you class your business in?
54
Figure 8: Turnover of businesses that answered the Ruapehu survey (logarithmic scale).
56
Figure 9: The Arrangement of Zones around Mount Ruapehu
57
Figure 10: Question 6 Please indicate where your home or business is located.
58
Figure 11: Series of graphs looking at the relationship between peoples location and
how likely they think they would be affected by a future eruption.
59
Figure 12: Respondents knowledge of what to do during an eruption.
61
Figure 13: How did you first learn that there was an eruption occurring from
Mount Ruapehu?
63
Figure 14: Location of the respondent versus whether they were affected by the 1995-1996
Ruapehu eruptions.
64
Figure 15: Question 19 Did you suffer any economic loss related to the Ruapehu eruptions?69
Figure 16: Losses (NZ$) suffered by different types of business (Logarithmic Scale).
69
Figure 17: Types of stress suffered as a result of the Ruapehu eruptions.
70
Tables
Table 1: Educating the public about volcanic hazards (after Gregory 1995; Peterson, 1996;
Voight, 1996).
Table 2: Impacts on plants and soil from increasing ash thickness (after Folsom, 1986, and
Blong, 1984; in Neild et al., in prep).
Table 3: Periods of high crop risk from ash (after MAF, 1995; Neild et al.,1998).
Table 4: Mitigation measures for volcanic ash and the water supply
(after Johnston, 1997a, 1997b).
Table 5: Number of survey participants involved in each type of business.
Table 6 : How respondents solved or fixed problems caused by the Ruapehu eruptions.
Table 7: Common hints suggested by survey respondents.
Table 8: Lifestyle adaptations made in response to the Ruapehu eruptions.
Page ii
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Page iii
Executive Summary
The Volcanic Risk Mitigation Plan has been written:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
The plan confirms the principles accepted by Environment Waikato as the basis of the
Volcanic Risk Mitigation Plan. There is an emphasis on working in partnership with
district councils and communities to find acceptable solutions to volcanic issues.
The first section of the plan outlines the roles and responsibilities of district councils in
implementing volcanic risk mitigation measures, the second section outlines pre-event
techniques and the third section outlines techniques that could be used during an
eruption.
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Page iii
Principles
A number of principles have been used to develop Environment Waikatos risk
mitigation plans. The principles used in previous plans are also applicable to the
volcanic risk mitigation plan. The general principles are:
a)
The advantages of integration are clarity, with responsibilities dealt with by the
most appropriate and legally bound agency, issues will not be passed from one
agency to another and administration will become more efficient. Integration will
be given overall authority through the Regional Policy Statement (RPS).
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Page v
b)
c)
f)
h)
Community Safety
Environment Waikato recognises the value of community input in decision
making.
Environment Waikato and district councils have a responsibility to
enable communities to provide for their health and safety under the RMA.
Environment Waikato has responsibilities for community safety under the Civil
Defence Act 1983. The Waikato Region Civil Defence Plan 1996 states the three
aims of civil defence. These are:
vi) to prevent loss of life
vii) to help the injured
viii) to relieve personal suffering and distress.
Therefore when Environment Waikato assesses volcanic risk management
options, community safety has overriding importance.
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Related Documents:
This Mitigation Plan represents the final milestone in completing a comprehensive
study of the volcanic hazard and risk in the Waikato Region. Other related
reports/sources of information that this plan complements include:
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Page vii
Introduction
As defined in the introduction, a volcanic hazard describes the physical characteristics
of an eruption (Blong, 1996). While a volcano is in eruption it will produce a variety of
hazards. Near-vent volcanic hazards tend to be very destructive, while distal hazards
may cause damage to structures or disrupt everyday life. Even when a volcano is not
in eruption, volcanic hazards such as debris avalanches or remobilised secondary
lahars can still occur. Figure 1 summarises some of the hazards that may be expected
from a typical composite cone volcano.
Mitigation of volcanic hazards can be undertaken during periods of crisis, while a
volcano is in eruption. Studies of recent eruptions have led to the identification of
mitigation measures that were used successfully while an eruption was in progress.
Extensive measures have been identified for the mitigation of problems caused by ash
fall. However, there are still a number of hazards that have few mitigation options
available. For example, pyroclastic flows and surges are so destructive that the only
really viable option is to evacuate the population at risk prior to the event.
The management and mitigation of volcanic hazards should not only occur during crisis
periods. It is also important that management of volcanic hazards is initiated and
undertaken in periods of non-crisis, prior to an eruption occurring. Pre-planning will
ensure that the mitigation measures employed in response to a crisis are successful.
Figure 2 illustrates the different aspects of volcanic hazard management under crisis
and non-crisis (pre-event) conditions.
Prevailing Wind
Eruption Cloud
Ash Fallout
Eruption Column
Ballistic
Fallout
Gas
Acid Rain
Lava Flow
Pyroclastic
Flow
Dome
Pyroclastic
Flow
Debris
Avalanche
Lahar
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Page 1
Non-crisis
Risk Reduction
- risk analysis
- land-use
planning
- mitigation
meaures
Preparedness
- volcano
surveillance
Crisis Management
- volcano
surveillance
- contingency
planning
- warnings
and public
information
- public
education
- emergency
response
- recovery
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2.2 Planning
During periods when volcanoes are not active, planning and preparation should be
undertaken to ensure the effects of a volcanic eruption are minimised. In the Mount St.
Helens eruption, the value of planning was one of the strongest lessons learnt by those
involved. Planning is important at national, regional, local and even individual levels
(Saarinen and Sell, 1985).
The following aspects should be considered when planning for a volcanic eruption.
Land use development and regulation to prevent development in zones that are of
high risk to volcanic hazards (Johnston and Houghton, 1995).
Where thick ash fall is likely to occur, building codes that require roofs to have
steeper pitches could be implemented (Spence et al., 1996; Johnston, 1997a).
This is especially important for critical buildings such as hospitals, fire stations,
police stations, public buildings and schools (Johnston, 1997a).
Plans and procedures need to be flexible enough to adapt to what may be rapidly
changing conditions during a volcanic eruption (Peterson, 1996; Johnston 1997a).
Johnston (1997a) suggests making a list of facilities that must be kept operative,
versus those that can be shut down during and after ash fall.
It is advisable to consider the need for stress counselling both for the general public
and emergency workers (Finnimore et al., 1995).
Pre-test the plan so that people know what roles they must fulfil (FEMA, 1984).
The 1996 Mount Ruapehu eruptions confirmed that the preparedness of a district is
based on past experiences. As a result of the 1995 eruption experience,
organisations were able to respond quickly and more effectively. It is important to
pass on information about lessons learnt from past eruption experiences to new
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staff in the organisations, so that they too can use that information effectively (Neild
et al., 1998).
Evacuation
Evacuation may be necessary in the event of a volcanic eruption. Near to the source
of the eruption it may be advisable to evacuate the area prior to activity in order to save
lives. It is also important to note that heavy tephra falls may cut off transport routes
after the eruption, thus hindering any effort to evacuate people (Johnston and Nairn,
1993).
There is a need to plan for the transportation, sheltering, feeding, clothing and medical
and hygiene needs of any evacuees or those that are stranded by an eruption. In the
event of a volcanic eruption there may be a large number of displaced people that need
to be cared for, and pre-planning will mean that those people have places where they
can stay (FEMA, 1984; Johnston and Nairn, 1993; Finnimore et al., 1995).
Before an eruption, it is necessary to identify resources that can be used to assist in
the evacuation of large numbers of residents. For example this may include towing
firms, mechanical repair firms, emergency fuel supplies and bus companies. Other
issues that should be considered include the control of traffic, and animal transport and
welfare. The early identification of needs during a volcanic eruption will allow ready
arrangement of outside assistance when an eruption occurs (Environment BOP, in
prep).
Spare Parts
Spare parts or critical equipment that may be needed during a volcanic eruption should
be stockpiled. This may include air filters, cleaning equipment, protective clothing, face
masks and extra fire hoses (Novak et al., 1981; FEMA, 1984; Johnston, 1997a). Extra
vehicles for emergency use by police and other personnel may also be required
(FEMA, 1984).
Education
Education of the public about volcanic hazards and how to mitigate against the effects
of a volcanic eruption is important. Education will lessen the physiological and physical
impacts of an eruption on the public. Warnings can be better understood if the public
understands the nature of the hazard. Also, since communications may be disrupted
during and after an eruption, it is necessary to distribute information before an event so
people know what to expect and what to do (Johnston and Nairn, 1993).
The public can be educated through newspaper articles, television, radio, the Internet,
exhibits at museums, brochures, talks by scientists to clubs and organisations and
school classes. Education about volcanic hazards aimed at school children has the
added benefit that parents become informed too, through their children (Peterson,
1996).
Table 1 summaries what the public needs to know about volcanic hazards and outlines
some techniques in disseminating hazard information.
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Table 1: Educating the public about volcanic hazards (after Gregory 1995;
Peterson, 1996; Voight, 1996).
Techniques for
relaying the
message
The Media
Most people rely on the media for receiving information. Surveys by Johnston et al.,
(1997) show that public knowledge and awareness of events during the Ruapehu
eruptions were derived almost entirely from the media.
Effective management of the media is required so that accurate information can be
conveyed to the public during a volcanic eruption. In a recent survey of organisations
by Paton et al. (1998), 43 percent of respondents reported that they had suffered
media problems during the 1995 Ruapehu eruption. These results highlight the need
for organisations to develop an effective media response, and to provide training for
media spokespersons. Paton et al. (1998) suggest addressing this problem by
including a media management component in training programs.
The increased public demand for information during a volcanic eruption may be
supplemented by distributing printed information (Johnston, 1997b).
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Networks
The FEMA (1984) recommend that prior to a volcanic eruption, roles and
responsibilities of the different organisations should be defined, and a network of
authority under which individuals would work in an emergency should be established.
In the survey of organisations by Paton et al. (1998), it was found that many
respondents believed there was a lack of clear responsibility for co-ordination over
the duration of the 1995 Ruapehu eruptions. There is therefore a need to establish
inter-organisational networks among those organisations that may be involved in
dealing with a future volcanic eruption. Paton et al (1998) suggest that more
simulations and exercises would help identify and resolve co-ordination problems.
Another recommendation was for groups to work together in the planning stage to
develop their capability to work as an integrated team (Paton et al., 1998).
A volcanic eruption may cover more than one local authority, and a shift in wind
direction may even change the entire area of impact. Because volcanic eruptions
cover wide areas, a nationally co-ordinated effort could reduce duplication. Neild et al.
(in prep) suggest that this is particularly true for providing information to the public and
media. However, concerns have been expressed over how Emergency Management
Groups would function without local knowledge if co-ordination were controlled from an
outside centre (Neild et al., in prep).
2.4 Monitoring
Within New Zealand, monitoring of all our active volcanoes takes place. Volcano
surveillance enables scientists to note any changes to a volcano, and if possible
provide warning of an impending eruption. At this stage, appropriate steps can then
be taken by organisations to reduce the risk to lives and property (Scott et al., 1995).
Three main types of monitoring are undertaken in New Zealand. The first technique is
monitoring of volcanic earthquakes. There are five volcano seismic networks in
operation around New Zealand. There are networks situated at Tongariro, Taupo and
in the Bay of Plenty and these are monitored by IGNS. The other two networks are
located in Auckland and Taranaki and are monitored by the relevant regional council
(Scott et al., 1995).
Measurement of ground deformation is a second monitoring method used on New
Zealand volcanoes. Measurement of ground deformation can be done in a number of
ways:Page 6
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Changes in gas chemistry, the rate of gas emission from craters and the chemistry of
crater lake and thermal spring waters can also be used to detect changes in a volcano.
Other evidence of unrest can also be detected from changes in groundwater, lake
levels, rate of stream flow and water temperature (Scott et al., 1995; Giggenbach,
1996).
The eruptions were short-lived and generally did not coincide with satellite
overpasses;
Many of the eruptions that occurred were obscured by cloud cover; and
AVHRR could not be used to measure the water temperature of Crater Lake as the
lake is too small.
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Ground based radar can also be used to track drifting volcanic clouds. Radar can
determine the height of the eruption cloud and the structure of the cloud. Portable
radar are useful as they can be moved around depending on where an eruption has
occurred. Doppler radar systems can sense particle size distribution in a volcanic
cloud (Rose and Kostinski, 1994).
Massive releases of sulphur dioxide from eruptions can be determined using the Total
Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS). Measurement of volcanic aerosols can also be
undertaken using remote sensing techniques (Francis et al., 1996; Oppenheimer,
1997). It is important to measure these as they are relevant to circulation, radiative
energy balance and chemical processes in the atmosphere. Volcanic aerosols can
have a climatic impact, and this was demonstrated after the Mount Pinatubo eruption in
1991 (Oppenheimer, 1997).
A summary of the applications of remote sensing to volcanology can be seen in
Figure 3.
AEROSOLS
- concentration /mass
- size distribution
VISIBLE
AIRBOURNE ASH
- cloud height / position
- ascent rate / tracking
- concentration / mass
VISIBLE, IR
SO2
- concentration / mass
UV, MICROWAVE
ACTIVE LAVA
- temperature
- heat flux
- morphology / texture
VISIBLE, IR,RADAR
TOPOGRAPHY
- static
- ground deformation
VISIBLE (STEREO), RADAR
POST-DISASTER
RECONNAISSANCE
- impact on society
VISIBLE, IR,RADAR
CRATER LAKES
- colour
- temperature
- heat flux
VISIBLE, IR
MAPPING
- lithology
- new ash / lava
- land cover
- morphology / texture
VISIBLE, IR, RADAR
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Page 9
causes increased rain run-off (Blong, 1984). Toxic fluorine compounds are also
concentrated on fine grained particles (Thorarinsson, 1979; Blong, 1984).
3.1.1 People
Respiratory problems, eye irritations, skin irritations (ash rash or acid rash) and
stress reactions will be experienced by people in the event of ash fallout (Blong, 1984).
As well as experiencing minor respiratory problems, it is possible to encounter serious
respiratory problems as a result of breathing in falling ash. Chronic bronchitis,
pneumovolconiosis or silicosis can be contracted from breathing in ash. Silicosis is a
lung disease resulting from the inhalation of fine particles of free crystalline silica which
have toxic effects on the lungs causing fibrotic changes. For silicosis to develop the
victim must be exposed to crystalline quartz (quartz, cristobalite or tridymite) of a
respirable range (that is, less than 10 microns) (Blong, 1984).
During the Mount St. Helens eruptions of 1980 it was noted that while many people
developed medical problems that were directly related to the ash fallout, there was also
a rise in ash-related accidents. For example, motor vehicle accidents and falls from
rooftops increased during the period that ash was present (Blong, 1984).
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wax layer is abraded by ash particles which causes rapid desiccation and death (Cook
et al., 1981; Neild et al., 1998).
Tephra falls from an eruption would have both physical and chemical effects on
horticulture (Neild et al. 1998). Table 2 shows the impacts on plants and soil from
increasing thicknesses of ash.
Table 2: Impacts on plants and soil from increasing ash thickness (after
Folsom, 1986, and Blong, 1984; in Neild et al., in prep).
Ash Thickness
Thin Burial
(< 5mm tephra)
Moderate Burial
(5-25 mm tephra)
Thick burial
(25-150 mm tephra)
The time of year, or stage of plant growth, will also affect the impact of ash fall on
vegetation. For example, a thin layer of tephra deposited in the growth season may do
more harm than a thicker layer deposited in other seasons (Thorarinsson, 1979).
Volcanic dust may also affect pollination time. The dust may impede the transfer of
pollen to the receptive parts of the flower, resulting in fewer fruit set and smaller
deformed fruit (Neild et al., 1998). The following table (Table 3) shows the stage that
each crop is most at risk.
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Table 3: Periods of high crop risk from ash (after MAF, 1995; Neild et
al.,1998).
Crop
Pea
Squash
Tomatoes
Sweetcorn
Pipfruit
Stonefruit
Kiwifruit
Grapes
Grains
Evergreen
perennial crops
Maize
Period at Risk
From emergence until the end of flowering.
During the initial stages of growth and flowering.
During seed emergence and flowering stages.
During the early stages of growth.
Has three danger periods:- blossom where severely acidic ash (pH less than 3) could burn plant tissue
and result in poor pollination;
- 6 to 8 weeks after blossoming, when the skin of the
- fruit is particularly sensitive; and
- later stages of development when fruit is prone to cosmetic blemishing.
Stone fruit is also susceptible at the same times as pipfruit, except that the
early fruit development period is four to six weeks after blossoming, when
sensitive fruit skins could be damaged, and show russet or deformation in
severe cases.
Kiwifruit is also at risk at, and six to eight weeks after, blossom. There would
also be a problem at harvest time. As kiwifruit cannot be washed prior to
packing, the hairy nature of the fruit would make ash removal very difficult.
Grapes have three main periods when damage could occur:- flowering, when acidic ash could burn plant tissues, reduce pollination and
reduce bunch fill;
- fruit development, where ash deposits would block sunlight and reduce
quality; and
- harvest, where ash deposits would be a contaminant with the extra acidity
of the ash possibly having a significant impact on wine quality. Ash would
have to be removed prior to harvesting by washing and allowing bunches
to dry.
Ash showers near maturity will make harvesting difficult and reduce the quality
of the grain.
(For example, avocado and citrus) Susceptibility is more uniform throughout
the year due to their persistent foliage cover.
The critical period for maize yields is three weeks before tasselling to two
weeks after pollination. Even light falls over this period could result in barren
stalk and crop failure.
During the Mount St Helens eruption, it was found that ash that had fallen on apple
leaves reduced photosynthesis by up to 90 percent. Peaches and raspberries could
not be cleaned of volcanic ash easily and as a result a significant percentage of the
crop could not be sold. Near mature blueberries were damaged by the salts in wet
ash. Ash covered the leaves of strawberry plants and compressed the fruit to the soil
surface, where conditions for infection and decay were ideal. In many cases, while the
ash that fell did not cause disease, it contributed to creating an environment that
disease could thrive in (Cook et al., 1981).
A layer of ash on the ground surface will lower permeability to air, water and water
vapour. Ash may also abrade horticultural or agricultural machinery (Cook et al.,
1981). Plant survival may be influenced by the weight of ash on the leaves. For
example, plants such as lucerne or peas have delicate leaves and stems, and these
may be easily damaged by the weight of the fallen ash. As well as damaging leaves
and stems, volcanic ash cancause significant physical damage to fruit (Neild et al.,
1998).
Pest species are not as prone to volcanic dust as their predators, and therefore after a
volcanic eruption there may be an increase in pests (Cook et al., 1981; Neild et al.,
1998).
Ash suspended in the atmosphere may cause a reduction in temperatures, and affect
horticulture. Horticultural crops may be stunted or may fail completely. As a result of
volcanic dust in the atmosphere from the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, New
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3.1.4 Electricity
The most common effects of volcanic ash on electricity distribution systems include
insulator flashover, electricity outages, and line breakage (Stemler and Batiste, 1981;
Johnston, 1997a).
Insulator flashover can be caused by volcanic ash and will result in outages to the
electricity supply. Ash that is dry causes no immediate flashover problems. However,
ash particles that have a soluble coating and have also been moistened are highly
conductive and can cause insulator flashover. Ash is moistened either by falling rain,
or from water present in the eruption plume (Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), 1984; Johnston, 1997a).
As well as
flashover.
vulnerable
and water
the state of the ash, the size and dimension of an insulator may also affect
For example, lower voltage insulators with smaller weather sheds are more
to flashovers due to the fact that they are more prone to exposure from ash
(Sarkinen and Wiitala, 1981).
After ash fall has occurred, controlled electricity outages are necessary to clean ash
from affected parts of the electrical system. Another problem is line breakage, and this
occurs when the weight of ash collected on power lines becomes too great (Johnston,
1997a).
In addition, Johnston (1997a) also notes a number of other problems associated with
volcanic ash and the electricity supply. These are:Ash contamination on insulators and conductors increases corona activity which in turn
causes increase in audible noise (around 10-15 dB) and radio interference.
Volcanic ash will abrade and clog mechanically moving parts used in the electricity
system.
Saturated volcanic ash on ground surfaces has the potential to be hazardous due
to its conductivity.
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Tree limbs that are laden with wet ash may fall on electricity distribution lines.
3.1.8 Gas
Gas supplies are not significantly affected by ash falls as most pipes are located below
ground and are protected from the ash. Gas facilities above ground such as above
ground-pumping stations, pressure reduction facilities, pipeline bridge crossings and
gas meters, may suffer ash-related damage (Johnston, 1997a).
3.1.9 Transportation
Motor Vehicles and Road Transport
Ash reduces visibility for road vehicles. Ash clouds are stirred up by moving traffic,
making it difficult for drivers to see (FEMA, 1984; Johnston, 1997b). When ash is wet
it causes problems to moving vehicles, as the surface becomes slippery to drive on
(FEMA, 1984; Johnston, 1997a). Ash can clog vehicle air filters, and can cause wear
to moving parts due to its abrasiveness (Hawkes Bay Civil Defence Organisation,
1994; Johnston and Houghton, 1995; Johnston, 1997a). Ash that fills roadside ditches
and culverts may prevent proper drainage and cause erosion on the shoulder of the
road (FEMA, 1984).
Rail Transport
Decreased visibility due to stirred up ash is a problem for the rail system. Rail crews
may also suffer from breathing problems due to the suspended ash. Ash may cause
wear to moving parts of the train, and if the ash is wet it may lead to short-circuiting of
signal equipment (Johnston, 1997a).
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In the Mount St. Helens eruption it was found that rail transport fared better than
automobile or air transport. Only minor train slow-downs were required and some rail
equipment suffered ash-related problems (Schuster, 1981).
Aircraft and Airline Travel
Aircraft and the airline industry are also prone to falling ash. On the ground, aircraft
and aerospace equipment may be contaminated by falling ash (Labadie, 1983). In the
air, temperatures of jet engines are hot enough to melt ash and thus effect the engine,
causing it to lose power. Ash cannot be detected by aircraft radar, so aircraft exclusion
from particular areas of potentially hazardous airspace is common. Even where ash
fall is minor, or there is simply the potential of ash fall, it may result in the closure of
airports (Labadie, 1994).
3.1.10 Communications
Ash fall may cause direct damage to communication systems, or have indirect effects
on them. For example, a particular communication system may not be operable
without electricity (Johnston, 1997a).
Interference to radio waves may occur due to large quantities of electrically charged
ash in the atmosphere. Telephone systems may also be affected by ash falls. Ash
entering telephone exchanges can cause abrasion, corrosion and conductivity damage
to electrical and mechanical systems. The switching gear at telephone exchanges
needs to be kept below critical temperatures, so exchanges with external airconditioning systems are vulnerable to overheating if these units fail due to ash
ingestion, or need to be switched off. Another problem that telephone systems may
experience is overloading, due to the increased demand by the public and emergency
services in response to an eruption (Johnston, 1997a).
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To avoid animals drinking contaminated water, water troughs should be emptied and
refilled with uncontaminated water.
In regards to horticulture, Neild et al. (1998) suggest that a prompt determination of
the physical (e.g. particle size) and chemical (composition and reactivity) properties of
ash from an actual event will help to predict its effects and guide mitigation or
rehabilitation strategies. Other mitigation suggestions include:
-
Nairn (1991) suggests that ventilation systems for crops grown indoors will need to
have filtering systems installed to reduce the amount of ash entering the structures.
3.2.4 Electricity
To prevent widespread power outages it is necessary that all surfaces in the electrical
system be cleaned immediately after ash fall. Dry ash should be cleaned by airblasting
or brushing the affected surface (Stemler and Batiste, 1981; Labadie, 1983; Johnston,
1997a). Wet ash is more difficult to remove. It should be cleaned off either with water
at high pressure or by hand (Stemler and Batiste, 1981; FEMA, 1984). To decrease
the chance of insulator flashover insulators should be washed from the bottom upwards
to remove as much ash as possible (FEMA, 1984; Johnston, 1997a). Cleaning and
protection of the electricity system should be continuous until the threat of windblown
ash is over (FEMA, 1984).
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Table 4: Mitigation measures for volcanic ash and the water supply (after
Johnston, 1997a, 1997b).
-
Mitigation measures
where the water comes
from a tank on a roof
If no tests can be done, the water tank should be drained, flushed and
refilled with uncontaminated water.
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3.2.8 Transportation
Road Network
Speed restrictions or road closure may be necessary to combat visibility problems and
slippery road conditions caused by ash falls (FEMA, 1984). After the 1980 Mount St
Helens eruption a number of dust retardants were used successfully to control the ash
before it was removed. Coherex (an emulsion of petroleum resins), lignin sulphate
and rock salt were among those used to stabilise the dust (FEMA, 1984; Labadie,
1983; Johnston, 1997a). However, these dust control methods did not control heavy
ash deposits for a long period of time, and they were also expensive (FEMA, 1984).
The best method of removing ash from roads is to sprinkle the ash with water and
blade it to the side or middle of the road. The ash can then be picked up by belt or
front-end loaders. A power broom can be used or water flushed over the road to
remove the remainder of the ash (Labadie, 1983; Johnston, 1997a). Conventional
snow removal methods should not be used to remove ash off roads. Snow removal
methods only stir the ash up and cause it to resettle on the roadway (FEMA, 1984).
Where roads are made of gravel, try to avoid removing too much of the gravel off the
surface during the clean-up process. Additional gravel may be required to replace any
that is lost, and may also assist in stabilising any dust that cannot be collected. FEMA
(1984) recommended adding graded material of 5/8 inch to 0 in size and crushed to
standard specification, for dust control (FEMA, 1984).
Ash deposits should be removed from any catch basins as soon as possible or ash will
form a crust making it difficult to remove later on (FEMA, 1984).
Motor Vehicles
Regular checks and maintenance of car parts are essential to preventing damage to
motor vehicles from volcanic ash. Checks and maintenance should be carried out on
vehicles after every two and a half to three hours of exposure to volcanic ash. If ash
enters the air filter and electrical equipment, it should be cleaned off using compressed
air of 30 psi or less. The outside of the car, engine and radiator should also be cleaned
daily, if necessary using water to flush the ash. After volcanic ash has ceased to fall,
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then a thorough inspection should be undertaken and repairs carried out (FEMA, 1984;
Labadie, 1983).
Rail Transport
Like motor vehicles, regular cleaning and maintenance of trains and rail equipment is
necessary during periods of ash fall (Labadie, 1983).
Aircraft and Airline Travel
It is necessary to apply flight restrictions when ash is falling, or when there is a
possibility of it being in the atmosphere (FEMA, 1984). Aircraft that are grounded
should, if possible, be kept free of volcanic dust. If aircraft have been exposed to ash,
then careful cleaning procedures are required to avoid damage to the aircraft
(Labadie, 1983; Labadie, 1994).
Runways should be kept clean as volcanic ash is easily re-entrained by the wind,
aircraft take-off and ground vehicle movement. The ash should be wetted down,
bladed to the sides of the runway and then picked up by belt or front-end loaders. The
remaining residue of ash should then be flushed away with water, or swept away.
Landing aids, air traffic control systems and ground equipment will also require periodic
cleaning, maintenance and monitoring (Labadie, 1983; Labadie, 1994).
Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAACs) have been established to keep track of
volcanic activity in different parts of the world. A VAAC is situated in Wellington, New
Zealand and covers the South West Pacific region. VAACs collate information about
volcanic clouds and provide this information to aircraft that are in flight or to those who
are planning flights (Metservice, 1997; Mayberry and Rose, 1998).
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3.4 Lahars
A lahar is defined by Houghton et al (1988) as a rapidly flowing mixture of water and
volcanic rock fragments of all sizes, particularly with fine ash which may combine with
the water to form a slurry capable of transporting larger rock fragments.
Lahars can be produced in many ways:- Snow or ice may be melted by erupted ash or lava.
- An eruption through a crater lake or emptying of the crater lake to cause water and
mud to flow down the side of a volcano.
- Heavy rain falling on to unconsolidated ash.
- Movement of a pyroclastic flow or debris avalanche into a river or lake (Houghton
et al., 1988; Gregory and Neall; 1996).
Lahars follow valleys, travel great distances and travel at high speeds (Blong, 1984;
Houghton et al., 1988). Lahars may continue to occur for months to years after a
volcanic eruption with the subsequent mobilisation of secondary lahars (Blong, 1984;
Rodolfo et al., 1996).
Lahars are capable of destroying everything in their path including buildings, bridges,
other structures and vegetation. People and animals are at risk from crush injuries,
drowning or asphyxiation (Baxter, 1990; Johnston and Houghton, 1995).
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Another mitigation measure for lahars is hazard mapping. Because most lahars flow
down valleys, areas likely to be at risk can be predicted fairly readily and mapped
(Blong, 1984).
If one is caught in or near the path of an approaching lahar, then moving to higher
ground away from any valley should afford protection from the lahar (Blong, 1984). If it
is not possible to move to higher ground in time then it may be possible to avoid the
lahar by climbing on to the roof of a building. If the lahar is not travelling at too great a
velocity then the building may remain intact while the lahar passes around it (Johnston,
1997a).
In the 1995-1996 Ruapehu eruptions, the Rangipo Dam and Power Station was
affected by lahars travelling down the Tongariro River. Lahars have continued to affect
the power station as volcanic deposits in the catchment of Rangipo continue to be
remobilised (Malcolm et al., 1997).
Volcanic material suspended in the lahars caused excessive wear on the turbines of
Rangipo power station and the replacement of parts was necessary. To mitigate
against the effect of the abrasive ash, improvements were made to the replacement
parts so that it would take three times longer for them to be damaged by volcanic ash
(Malcolm et al., 1997).
Other mitigation options considered by Rangipo power station to avoid damage to
turbines included:- Shutting down power generation when the amount of suspended volcanic ash in
Tongariro River causes an excessive wear rate in the turbine.
- Retaining the ash near source using sediment traps or retention dams.
- Diversion of the water sources carrying suspended volcanic material.
- Separation of the ash at Rangipo Dam.
- A sediment trap in the Waihaha pipe bridge (Malcolm et al., 1997).
The eruptions of Mount Ruapehu in 1995-1996 resulted in a deposit of ash blocking the
outlet of Ruapehu Crater Lake. When the lake refills, it is anticipated that this tephra
dam may collapse and produce a dangerous lahar down the Whangaehu River. A
study by the Department of Conservation (1998) has been carried out to look at
mitigation options for this hazard. Some of the more feasible options for mitigation
include:Option 1:
Option 2:
Option 4:
Much consultation is still required before a decision can be made on which mitigation
measures will provide adequate protection and account for cultural, philosophical and
other values (Department of Conservation, 1998).
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Aerosol droplets
adhere to ash
particle surfaces
SO2 converted
to H2SO4
SO2
H2O
Ash
CO2
HCl
HF
.
Acid
Rain
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
Leachates flushed
from ash deposits
.
.
. .
.
.
.
. .
.
Rain
.
. .
Mixing with
surface waters
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3.12 Flooding
Following a volcanic eruption, the deposition of volcanic sediment in valleys may
disrupt normal stream or river flows. Channel aggradation, and the increased lateral
migration of channels and bank erosion may occur. These conditions can cause
damage to structures and worsen normal seasonal flooding (Pierson, 1989).
Volcanic material will cause stream blockages and pond temporary lakes (Blong,
1996). After the 26,500 yr B.P. Oruanui eruption, and again after the 181 A.D. Taupo
eruption, temporary lakes were created when volcanic material blocked the normal flow
of the Waikato River. The largest of these lakes was situated in the Reporoa Basin
(Tilly, 1987; Manville, in press; Manville, in prep; Manville et al., in prep.).
Erupted volcanic material will sometimes also block an outlet to an existing lake or river
causing a body of water to build up behind the dam. When this dam collapses due
to erosion or is overtopped, large scale catastrophic flooding can occur. Following the
Tarawera eruption, a tephra bank was created at the outlet to the Tarawera River, and
the lake rose 12 m behind the bank. Following heavy rainfall, the tephra bank was
washed away and a breakout flood occurred down the river. The flood was
accompanied by the silting up of the Tarawera River in the following years, as the flood
waters eroded the countryside that they flowed over (Nairn, 1991; White et al., 1997).
A similar situation occurred after the 181 A.D. Taupo eruption when Lake Taupos
outlet became choked with volcanic material from the eruption. The result of the
blockage was that the level of Lake Taupo rose to a mean height of 34 m above its
normal level. As the lake overtopped the ignimbrite barrier blocking the lake outlet, it
began to erode the barrier away. Catastrophic collapse occurred, creating a breakout
flood down the Waikato River (Tilly, 1987; Manville, in prep.; Manville et al., in prep.).
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Wilson and Hildreth (1998) studied hybrid fall deposits in the Bishop Tuff, California.
These deposits display features common to both classic fall and surge deposits.
Wilson and Hildreth (1998) suggest that these deposits formed when tephra fall
material that had been already deposited, was re-entrained by strong winds generated
during a pyroclastic flow, and then redeposited. They state that the recognition of fall
deposits is important in interpreting the dynamics of explosive eruptions and correctly
assessing volcanic hazards.
The continued study of deposits and processes that are not extensively understood will
aid in hazard assessment, and mitigation of those hazards can then be undertaken.
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Reawakening volcanoes
Scientific Alert
Volcano Status
Indicative Phenomena
Level
Usual dormant or
quiescent state.
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2
3
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Confirmation of volcano
unrest. Eruption threat.
Minor eruptions commenced.
Real possibility of hazardous
eruptions.
Reduce Exposure
Reduce Severity
Decontaminate
Wash.
Brush/wipe.
High pressure air.
Vacuum.
Reduce Effects
Accelerate maintenance/cleaning.
Change operational procedure.
Replace contaminated parts.
Re-design equipment - add filters, change air flow pattern.
Reduce performance requirements.
Recommendations
Temporarily cover all mechanical equipment that might be exposed to ash fall.
Where possible, place sandbags or other devices at the entrance channel to the
plant to trap ash. (This procedure requires frequent attention due to normal
settleable solids present in sanitary waste).
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Consider removing or bypassing the comminutor during the initial heavy flows of ash
into the plant.
Frequently check the primary clarifier to prevent (a) damage to the sludge collection
mechanism and/or the digester sludge pumps and (b) the transference of ash to the
digester. Depending on the type of mixing employed in the digester, further damage
may occur in the sludge transfer pumps.
To clear ash from individual sections of then treatment facility, bypass individual
units, or in extreme instances, make a complete plat bypass to a holding pond or
lagoon.
The effects of ash on the pH value of influent or effluent are not clearly understood.
Toxicity may occur in the plant effluent to the extent that the bacterial growth is
damaged or lost. At the first signs of distress on a biofilter, check and adjust the pH
level of the influent to the biofilter.
Recommendations
Repair or replace damaged culverts and flumes.
Before/ during ash falls seal all buildings and shut down electrical equipment. Cover
pump/generation facilities.
After ash falls, conduct field surveys of the main canal and headworks. If necessary
close the canal and correct deficiencies.
Inspect intersecting natural channels, gullies and canyons for debris jam conditions.
Check conditions of watershed above canal for ash accumulations to prevent future
clogging.
Recommendations
Water/sprinkle lawns to consolidate ash in the turf. (moistened ash is easier on
cutting mechanisms).
Do not wash shrubs and trees in large park areas - ash accumulation will abate with
the action of wind, rain, and snow.
Clear golf course greens by sweeping, followed by vacuuming.
Sweep/hose grave markers, picnic tables, seats, playground equipment, etc.
Clear grassed athletic field using the recommendations for other grassed areas.
Sweep/vacuum athletic fields with artificial surfaces.
Clear ash from pools using normal pool maintenance clearing procedures.
Do not attempt to clear ash from picnic/camp sites with natural ground cover. To
temporarily improve the situation cover ground with wood chips.
Do not clear ash from parking lots that have gravel surfaces - the removal process
will result in gravel loss. Place a thin lift of gravel on surfaces that have moderate to
light ash.
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Extremely wet ash creates very slippery and hazardous road conditions.
Ash filling roadside ditches and culverts can prevent proper drainage and cause
shoulder erosion and road damage.
Donts
Conventional snow removal methods do not work on dry ash - they only stir it up
and cause it to resettle on the roadway. When ash is pushed to the side of the
paved travelled lanes, wind and vehicle movement cause it to billow.
After the Mount St. Helens eruption various types of dust palliatives on thin layers of
ash were used with some success. However these palliatives did not satisfactorily
control heavy deposits for any appreciable length of time and proved to be an
expensive method of control. The palliatives included some commercial retardants
and lignin solutions from the paper pulping process.
Recommendations for Paved Roads and Urban Streets (from FEMA, 1984)
Notify bordering property owners to move ash from roofs.
For a thorough cleaning of paved roads with storm sewers, use power brooms on
the dampened residue.
To remove remaining ash on paved roads without storm sewers, flush road with
water.
As soon after the street cleanup as possible, remove ash deposits from catch basin
inlets with vacuum trucks or machines with jet rodding and vacuum systems. If the
cleanup is delayed ash will crust making it harder to remove. Further, the ash
density impairs the self-cleaning function of the sewers grade, creating the potential
for plugging the sewer.
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Recommendations
Prepare contingency plans to provide public service with heavy duty air filtration
units for emergency use where dust is a hazard.
Before choosing an air filter unit consult manufacturers recommendations.
After installation, inspect the air filter frequently. In heavy ash falls (visibility less
than 50 ft) check the filter every 100 miles. Where ash fall is lighter, check the filter
less frequently but at least every 1,000 miles. Check for holes, cracks or damage to
the seal. Clean using compressed air, not to exceed 30psi. Set filter housing
covers very tightly. Do not wrap filter with cheese cloth or silk stocking.
Change oil and oil filter often. Lubricate all chassis components at each oil change.
Cover passenger compartment air intake vent with loosely woven felt-type material
or keep air conditioning/air blowers closed. Disconnect automatic blowers.
Use air pressure (30 psi or less) to blow dust from open electrical equipment
(alternator, starter, wiper motor) every 1,000 miles or less.
Clean brake assemblies every 100 miles or less with compressed air.
Clean car, including engine, radiator, etc daily, if necessary using water to flush the
ash.
Rebuild engines at shops outside the ash fall zone.
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4.
Recommendations
Notify building owners to remove ash to prevent streets from having to be recleaned.
Inform public of effective methods to (1) remove ash from roofs and preparing it for
pickup, and (2) organise neighbourhood volunteer cleanup activities.
Caution residents against flushing into sewers.
Remove ash dry before the first rain. Dampen with light spray of water to reduce
billowing.
Ash cleanup supervised by knowledgeable building maintenance personnel to
prevent roof damage.
Use protective measures when removing ash from roofs (e.g. Fire hoses may
damage roof).
Do not flush ash into drains and downspouts - it can clog the pipes. Ash flushed into
dry wells can seal then, rendering them inoperative.
Remove all ash near intakes of ventilation systems.
To protect sewer lines disconnect down drains at ground level until cleanup is
complete.
Clean roof surfaces accordingly to reduce the accelerated deterioration of roof
coatings caused by the mildly acidic ash. Most susceptible are older galvanised
roofs which are pitted and low gage galvanised roofs.
On flat roofs, hand sweep ash into windrows and transport by wheelbarrow to an
edge dump. Use proper protection to prevent impact and abrasion damage.
Hoppers with a funnel pipe suspended above a loading truck can be used to collect
the ash.. To remove final dry residue/thin layers of ash, use air pressure carefully.
Small vacuum equipment is not practical due to ash abrasiveness.
On steep shingle roofs place dams in the troughs to prevent the ash from reaching
the down-drains. Then hose down the ash and clear it from the eave troughs. Take
care to avoid deforming the gutters.
On low slope bitumastic mopped roofs with a thin ash layer, flush the ash with water.
To avoid clogging the inlets to roof drains, encircle the roof inlet with a specially
fabricated ring made from heavy sheet metal about four inches wide and 2 feet in
diameter. This serves as a dam allowing water to spill over the top, while the ash
settles in the surrounding roof depression. Later, when dry, the ash can be removed
manually.
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Doc # 498257
Most advised tactic - shutdown all computer and electronic systems until the dust
had been completely removed from the area and equipment.
Continual cleaning and aggressive protection of computer systems should allow
continued operation in all but the heaviest fallout.
Prevention - Clean and condition surrounding air to keep out dust.
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Page 43
Cotton mat filters (used in clean rooms) were found best for filtering particles, but
they reduce air flow. Solution is to use larger fans to maintain required air flow.
Use fluted filters as a compromise; increases surface area but reduces air flow by
only about 20%.
Digital integrated units can vary 5-10% in performance (depending on type of
circuit) and still be acceptable. It is difficult to generalise about other equipment.
Humidifying ambient air (e.g. wet carpets) will help to control dust re-entrainment.
Dust on equipment can be blown out with compressed air. If the air is too dry,
static discharge could damage sensitive components. If the air is too damp, the
dust will stick. Relative humidity of 25-30% is best for compressed air.
Cleaning with a pressurised water-detergent mix and a hot water rinse is quite
effective. However, this process requires at least partial disassembly.
Dust on digital circuits wont cause much of a problem because of the low voltages
involved. High voltage or high-impedance circuits are very vulnerable to leakage
caused by semi-conductive dust. Dust that is acidic is conductive as well as
corrosive.
Dust should be blown or brushed away from power supplies and CRTs (especially
high voltage leads, capacitors).
Dust may have high static charge and be hard to dislodge; requires brushing to
dislodge.
Accelerate filter change; use prefilters.
Change to absolute filters; will keep particles out to 1 micron.
Keep computer power on to operate filtration, but dont run (especially disk drives).
Maintain room within a room configuration; restrict access; re-circulate air;
accelerate cleaning of area.
Mitigation tactics focus on stopping the dust before it enters the cooling air stream
and then on to protecting the air handling system itself.
Close external air intakes; use internal circulation only; this will create positive
pressure inside building.
Control access; seal doors.
Establish decontamination rooms for entering personnel; provide vacuum cleaners,
shoe covers, disposable caps.
Stockpile cleaning supplies, duct tape, disposal containers.
Use extra (and heavier) filters for external air intakes.
Clean dust away from external intakes; restrict vehicle and foot traffic near intakes.
Install intake hoods that extend farther above ground.
Install pre-filters.
Add sand filters to cooling towers.
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Doc # 498257
People subject to heavy exposures should observe the following precautions: Wear light face or surgical masks to prevent inhalation of large particles which may
contribute to throat and eye irritation.
Advise patients with chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma to stay inside and
avoid unnecessary exposure to ash.
Handle dust in open well ventilated areas, and wet dust where possible to prevent
movement.
Wear protective clothing and high efficiency dust masks. These should be available
and easily accessible in preparation for volcano related emergencies.
In fine dust environments wear goggles or corrective eye-glasses instead of contact
lenses.
Personnel not essential to the emergency should be kept inside and made to strictly
observe all safety precautions during a cleanup.
Keep doors closed where there is a heavy dust accumulation.
Give sight distance the proper attention to avoid vehicle and industrial accidents.
Training in first aid and emergency procedures is essential to disaster relief work
and self-protection.
Avoid exposure to dust - shut down for the duration of the problem, aircraft in
hangars or evacuated, re-route air traffic.
Seal seams, ports, vents, etc with duct tape to keep out dust. This will take 4 to 5
hours. Very hard to seal up an aircraft completely; too many ports, vents, seams,
joints.
Maintaining positive pressure within aircraft components would help keep dust out,
but very difficult to not cause damage to ground equipment.
Blow or vacuum dust off before washing (otherwise dust tends to flow into ports,
vents, control surfaces).
Flush or wash off residue. Do not scrub or broom.
Wash down gear, underside, air-conditioning intakes, engines.
Check pH of aircraft/engine surfaces for acidity. Extra care is needed if dust is
acidic.
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Page 45
Neutralise sulphuric acid by adding petroleum based solvent to wash water. Dust
buildup in or around hatch seals could cause problems with pressurisation after
launch.
Fuel tank vents must be open during loading, unloading, and transfer of fuel. If
vents are plugged with dust, or if sealed and seal not removed, tank could collapse.
Supporting technique
Sweep/vacuum dust first, then flush with water (best for ramps, etc)
Push dust to runway edge; plough under or cover with binder (Coherex or liquid
lignin)
Install sprinkler along edges of runway to control re-entrainment of dust from
aircraft engine blast or wingtip vortices
Keep residue on taxiways and ramps wet.
Sandbag around catch-basins; water level builds up and then runs over bags as
dust precipitates. Catch basin remain clear and dust can be vacuumed or loaded
as above.
Open graded (popcorn surface) runways are to some extent self cleaning; engine
blast on take-off will blow dust out of crevices.
Operational Considerations
Airborne Systems Support - Landing aids and air traffic control (from
Labadie, 1983)
Mitigation Techniques
Replace antennas which have Teflon insulators (dust hard to clean off and will
cause shorting; ceramic insulators should be used).
Seal relay boxes, remote indicator units, light systems to prevent dust entry.
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Doc # 498257
Increase cleaning and maintenance of systems that cant be sealed or that require
cooling air.
Vacuum out or blow out dust; clean relays, etc. with contact cleaner.
Use high pressure water wash on exposed antenna rotor bearings; re-lubricate.
Cover exposed joints, seams, bearings.
Seal building, control access; vacuum shoes, clothes.
Reduce operating levels; shut down unused equipment; reduce broadband displays
to minimum; reduce cooling and power consumption.
Change procedures; combine sectors for reduced coverage.
Transfer responsibility to other control centres if planned shutdown required.
Accelerate installation of solid state equipment - power and cooling requirements
lower.
Dont use gas turbines (for engine start and electrical power), air compressors and
air conditioners. This equipment operates on the ingestion of a large volume of air
and has only coarse filtration. Extra filtration cannot be added without affecting
operation. Using air conditioners to pressurise aircraft compartments would only
blow dust into the aircraft and ruin the air-conditioners in the process.
Constant cleaning and maintenance
Dont wash equipment. Water turns dust to sludge and washes it into the
equipment.
Vacuum dust off equipment.
Change oil and filters more often.
Change design to include better filtration.
Operational Considerations
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Page 52
Doc # 498257
Questionnaire Results
General Details
Question 1 - Do you own a business or are you answering this survey on behalf
of a business?
For this study, it was decided to concentrate on sending the questionnaire to people
who owned businesses to determine the effects that the Ruapehu eruptions had on
them. The effects of the eruptions on small businesses in particular had not been
extensively studied after the Ruapehu eruptions. Through the survey it was possible to
determine the amounts of money lost by some businesses, as well as gather
information on the physical effects of the eruptions.
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The results indicate that 96% of respondents answered the questionnaire on behalf of
a business. The other 4% answered the questions in the survey with regard to their
home location.
Question 2 - What category do you class your business in?
The two most common categories that survey respondents classed their business in
were tourism (27%) and the service industry (26%) (Figure 7). There were four other
significant business categories, which included the retail industry (15%), transport
industry (9%), farming (6%) and professional (6%). Business categories that were
selected by the least number of people included horticulture, trades-persons,
education, communication, research, industrial/manufacturing and the health industry
(3% or less for each category).
Retail
Farming
Service
Health
Tourism
Transport
Indust/Manufacturing
Professional
Tradesperson
Horticulture
Education
Communication
Research
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Doc # 498257
Number of
Survey
Participants
26
15
15
14
13
11
10
9
8
7
6
6
6
6
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
Doc # 498257
Page 55
1,000,000,000
100,000,000
10,000,000
1,000,000
Turnover ($NZ)
100,000
10,000
1,000
100
26
27
28
Tourism
25
29
Industrial
24
Service Industry
23
Advent. Tourism
22
Security Services
21
Plumbing
20
Education
19
Health
18
Rentals
17
Roading
16
Water Sports
15
Trades person
14
Information
13
Panel Beating
12
Forestry
11
Retail
10
Electricity
Transport
Professional
Flight Services
Air-conditioning
Number of Respondents
Hardware
Accommodation
Veterinary
Farming
Horticulture
Food Industry
Ski Industry
10
Category of Business
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Doc # 498257
30
Wairoa
Waiouru
Raetihi
National Park
Zone 1 1
Zone 2
Rangipo
Turangi
Tokaanu
Eltham
Stratford
Waitara
New
Plymouth
Zone 5
Zone 4
Lake
Waikaremoana
Awakino
Whakapapa Village
Te Kuiti
Otorohanga
Taumarunui
Lake
Taupo
Taupo
Kinloch
Tihoi
Mangakino
Putaruru
3
Te Awamutu
Raglan
Zone 3
Reporoa
Atiamuri
1
Rotorua
Tokoroa
Ngongotaha
Kawerau
Edgecumbe
Murapara
15
Zone 6
Scale (km)
0
15
30
Zone 7
Zone 8
Opotiki
Whakatane
Cambridge
Paeroa
Tauranga
Matamata
Te Puke
Mount Maunganui
Katikati
Waihi
Whangamata
Thames
2
Hamilton
ive
Huntly
iR
Ngaruawahia
an
u
ta
Port
Waikato
W
an
ga
Auckland
Ra
n
ve
iver
Ri
to R
ik
i
ika
Wa
Doc # 498257
Page 57
12%
3% 8%
5%
31%
26%
2%
0-20 km (zone 1)
21-50 km (zone 2)
51-80 km (zone 3)
81-110 km (zone 4)
111-140 km (zone 5)
141-170 km (zone 6)
171-200 km (zone 7)
200 km + (zone 8)
13%
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Doc # 498257
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Line of best
fit
0
10
Number of
respondents who
chose "somewhat
likely"
Number of
respondents who
chose "not likely"
10
8
6
4
2
0
Line of best
fit
Location (zones)
10
Location (zones)
25
50
20
15
10
5
Line of best
fit
0
0
10
Location (zones)
Number of
respondents who
chose "extremely
likely"
Number of respondents
who chose "moderately
likely"
40
30
20
Line of best
fit
10
0
0
10
Location (zones)
Page 59
them in an eruption. A number of people were unsure of what volcanic materials they
might receive in a rhyolitic eruption or basaltic eruption, but many knew what they
would be likely to receive in the event of an andesitic eruption.
No materials
For a basaltic eruption, a small proportion of people thought that no materials would
reach their community. However for both andesitic and rhyolitic style eruptions, every
person who answered these questions thought that some type of volcanic material
would reach their community.
Ash fall
Ash fall was the most common volcanic material selected by participants as likely to
reach their community if an eruption was to occur from a basalt, andesite or rhyolite
volcano. The widespread ash falls experienced during 1995-1996 Ruapehu eruptions
have most likely contributed to an awareness of this hazard.
Volcanic Gases
Volcanic gas was the second most common hazard that respondents thought would
reach their location in a future eruption. In the Ruapehu eruptions, people could smell
volcanic gases adhered to the ash that fell. In this form, the gases were not at toxic
levels. The questionnaire did not differentiate between different levels of toxicity or
explain the different forms of volcanic gas. Therefore it is likely that the majority of
survey respondents only understood volcanic gases from their experience of the
Ruapehu eruptions, and did not consider them at toxic levels.
Ballistic Fallout
A large number of respondents thought that they would receive ballistic fallout in the
event of an eruption. Out of those that responded, many did not live close to a
volcano, and it is therefore improbable that they would receive fallout. The fact that
large numbers of people selected ballistic fallout as an option is clearly attributable to a
lack of understanding of the hazard.
Lava Flows
Despite lava flows being relatively unlikely to cover a widespread area and reach many
locations, a number of respondents still believed that it was possible that a lava flow
from a basaltic or andesitic eruption could reach their community.
Lahars
Those living in zones close to the andesitic volcanoes Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and
Ruapehu, showed a heightened awareness of lahars, and believed that one could
reach their location. This is due to the fact that many lahars have occurred in historic
times, and thus the lahar hazard has a high profile. However, further away from the
high profile mountain area, fewer people selected lahars from an andesitic source as
realistic hazard.
Floods and lahars down the Waikato River
A number of people recognised that floods and lahars down the Waikato River from a
rhyolitic source, would be likely to affect their community. The number of people that
selected this hazard as likely to affect them, was similar to the proportion that thought
they would be affected by andesitic lahars.
Debris Avalanche
Respondents who lived closer to the cone shaped, andesitic mountains thought that
debris avalanches could affect their community. The majority of respondents living
further away from the mountains did not believe that debris avalanches were likely to
affect them.
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Tsunamis
A high number of respondents who lived in zones near lakes, recognised that tsunamis
could affect their community if a volcanic eruption was to occur from a vent in the lake.
Examples of these zones include zone 3, which includes Lake Taupo, and zone 5,
which includes Lake Rotorua and a number of other lakes. In other zones that dont
have lakes, very few people thought that they would be affected by a tsunami.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
no
yes
Percentage of Respondents
People are familiar with what to do when ash is falling through the air, when ash has
fallen on the roof and in the downpipes, and when ash has fallen on the roads (Figure
12). Areas of knowledge that are distinctly lacking include knowledge of what to do
when ash falls on crops or grass, what to do about ballistic fallout, what to do if a lava
flow reaches your location and what to do if a pyroclastic surge or flow occurred.
Type of Hazard
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The results from question 11 indicate that for hazards that are unfamiliar (e.g. lava
flows and pyroclastic flows) people are unsure of the impacts and how to respond.
People are also unfamiliar about hazards that dont concern them. For example, most
of the businesses that responded to this survey work in the tourism and service
industries. It is unlikely that people running these types of business will know what to
do if ash were to fall on crops because this issue does not concern them. However, if
someone involved in horticulture did not know how to deal with the problem of ash on
crops, then the results could be disastrous. It is essential that people are familiar with
how to deal with the specific problems associated with hazards that affect them
directly.
Because problems associated with ash fallout were common during the 1995 and 1996
Ruapehu eruptions, many New Zealanders who were caught in the fallout are now
familiar with how to cope with ash related problems. However, to fill the knowledge gap
about other hazards, education is required. There is a possibility in the future that
people may be faced with volcanic hazards that they have not directly encountered
before, and if they are previously informed about these hazards it will enable them to
take the appropriate mitigative action.
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Internet
Brochures
Magazine
Loss of signal from Crater Lake
Scientific Alert Bulletin
Television
Newspaper
Radio
W ord of mouth
Saw, heard, experienced the eruption first hand
20
40
60
80
100
Number of respondents
120
140
Figure 13: How did you first learn that there was an eruption occurring
from Mount Ruapehu?
The second and third most common methods of finding out that an eruption had
occurred was via the radio, and then by word of mouth.
Many participants also
pointed out that after they saw the ash cloud they turned on the radio to find out more
information.
Short of seeing an ash cloud approaching, the radio will be one of the first sources to
disseminate information in regards to a future volcanic eruption. It will continue to be a
major source of information for people as the eruption continues. It is essential
therefore that information broadcast from a radio station is up-to-date, accurate and is
not contradictory.
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Page 63
120
100
80
Line of best
fit
60
40
20
0
0
10
Location (zones)
Figure 14: Location of the respondent versus whether they were affected
by the 1995-1996 Ruapehu eruptions.
Question 14 Did you suffer any damage,
inconvenience in relation to any of the following:-
disruption or any
Most of the damage or disruption that occurred could be attributed to problems that
arose due to the falling ash.
Horticulture
Over half of the people that experienced damage in relation to horticulture said that
their plants and vegetables in gardens at home had suffered from the ash fall. Some
respondents noted that plants coated with ash had to be washed down. Other
respondents noted that some plants were burned by the ash and then had proceeded
to either die or experience poor growth in the following seasons.
Livestock
Livestock were affected when they ingested ash that had fallen on pasture. Some
farmers found that their stock suffered some slight ill effects from the ash such as
weight loss, but there were no reports of stock deaths from survey respondents.
Household pets, such as dogs and cats, were also found to suffer problems from ash
adhering to their feet and coats. Other animals and insects that were affected due to
the ash fallout included fish and bees.
Buildings/structures
The majority of survey participants that were affected by the Ruapehu eruptions
experienced problems with ash falling on structures. Eighty people noted that ash had
fallen on the roofs of buildings, and 41 people reported that ash had fallen in the
downpipes and guttering. Roof guttering that had collected large amounts of ash was
at risk of, or in some cases did, collapse. Those people whose downpipes fed water
tanks were at risk of polluting their supply of water if the ash was not removed from the
guttering prior to the next rainfall. The ash also created corrosion problems with iron
guttering and roofs. Many of these problems have been reported in other studies (for
example, Johnston et al., 1996; Johnston, 1997a; Treblico, 1997).
Eighteen people had to deal with ash that had collected on concrete paths and paved
areas, and four people noted that ash fell into their swimming pool. Ten people found
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Doc # 498257
that ash managed to infiltrate buildings. Other complaints involved ash on verandahs,
glasshouses and in drains.
Machinery
Again the problems that questionnaire participants had with machinery were directly
related to ash fallout. The abrasiveness of the ash was prone to causing wear to
motors and to general pieces of machinery. Machinery and tools were at risk of
corrosion if they came into contact with the ash. One person noted that they had
problems with ash falling on electronic gear. Air-conditioning systems were severely
impacted by the ash in the atmosphere. Respondents noted that air-conditioning units
as far away as Tauranga and Hamilton experienced problems with the ingestion of ash
into the filter system.
Road vehicles
A substantial number of respondents (39) stated that ash fell on their motor vehicle. A
further 17 respondents elaborated on this saying that the acidity of the ash caused
corrosion on the motor vehicle. Fifteen participants noted that ash clogged up the air
filters in the vehicles, and three said that ash had blocked the radiator vents.
Roading
Six respondents found that ash falls on the roads were stirred up by moving traffic and
caused a dust problem. This reduced visibility for drivers. One respondent noted that
when the ash became wet, then roads became slippery to drive on. Ash falls were so
thick in some areas that the road markings were no longer visible on the road. A few
respondents (7) were inconvenienced by road closures and detours that occurred as a
result of the ash falls.
Water supply
Sixteen respondents water supplies were affected by volcanic ash. Ash fallout from
the eruptions fell into guttering, and from there made its way into personal water tanks.
As a precaution people were advised not to drink their water or to boil it before doing
so. Another water-related ash problem was with respect to animals drinking water.
Four respondents reported that water troughs were contaminated with ash. In
response, farmers covered their water troughs.
Electricity
There were only a few responses related to problems with electricity. Some of the
problems noted by survey participants were:- the electricity system suffered corrosion due to the acidity of the ash;
- insulators shorted out, causing a power cut;
- a power line fell down due to the weight of the ash on the line; and
- power surges occurred in some parts of Auckland.
Sewerage/ Stormwater drainage
Only one respondent noted that they suffered any damage or disruption with regards to
the drainage system.
They said that a stormwater drain was blocked and
malfunctioning.
Telecommunications
In regards to the telecommunication network, people were inconvenienced when
phones were overloaded due to the high usage. Ash that had fallen on the telephone
wires were said to have caused crackling that could be heard when having a
conversation on the telephone. Two people also noted that radio communications
were disrupted and the signal was lost as the ash fell.
Aircraft and Air Travel
Ash falling on aircraft (and the associated corrosion) was a problem cited by only a few
respondents. Airline travel was disrupted, as aircraft could not fly while ash was falling.
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No of People
112
26
9
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
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1
1
1
1
1
Question 18 - Did you discover any useful hints in coping with the
problems that you faced?
Just under 50% of respondents said that they did have a useful hint that they could
share. Table 7 summarises the set of useful hints that participants shared. Most of the
hints related to problems with ash falling on objects, or problems with ash causing
corrosion.
Animals
Plants, shrubs
Ash on roof
Ash in downpipes
Machinery
Airconditioning
Road Vehicles
Doc # 498257
Water
People
Ash problems in
general
Service vehicles and equipment regularly (For example change the air
filter).
Dont unwind car windows during an ash fall the ash gets caught inside.
Cover open water tanks during ash fall.
Shut down water supply during ash fall.
Provide spare containers for drinking water.
Boil drinking water that has been contaminated by ash.
Block stormwater drains while washing ash away.
Keep indoors during ash fall, otherwise wear a dust mask outside.
If working outside and ash begins to fall, stop working until the conditions
change.
For food hygiene, staff needed to change overalls 2 to 3 times daily
during ash falls, instead of once.
Use advertising to regain customer confidence.
Be conscious that ash is abrasive, and dont wipe off surfaces.
Ensure ash is contained, stabilised or removed as soon as possible.
A variety of less common hints were suggested regarding swimming pools, boats,
aircraft and management issues. These can be viewed in Appendix III.
One problem regarding the useful hints is that many people had different ideas on how
to cope with the same problem. For example, for the problem of ash getting into the
down pipes people had different suggestions on what to do. Some simply said to hose
the downpipes out, some said to disconnect the down pipes immediately after an ash
fall, some said to hose from the top of the downpipes and collect the ash at the bottom
and some said to remove as much ash as possible before hosing down. Some of
these responses were correct, while some were only partially correct. It seems that the
appropriate information on how to deal with ash in the downpipes only partially reached
some of the respondents. They used what information they had retained to solve their
problem. However, while the solutions they devised worked for them, it may not have
been the totally correct method. For example, hosing out the downpipes without
collecting the ash at the bottom may have worked in the short term, but it may have
caused problems further down the line for wastewater systems.
Another problem that the Ruapehu eruptions may have inadvertently contributed to, is
what is acceptable to do in a small eruption, may not necessarily be appropriate for a
larger eruption. An example of this is the problem of ash falling on a roof. Because the
Ruapehu eruptions only produced a light ash fall on roof tops, many people dealt with
the problem by washing the ash off the roof with water. In a heavier ash fall, this
practice should be discouraged as water causes the weight of the ash to increase
substantially. The increased weight of the ash could cause roofs to collapse.
Many hints that people provided were similar to those suggested from the experiences
of past eruptions overseas, and reinforces the fact that those mitigation practices are
successful. Some of the hints provided are useful for New Zealand conditions. For
example many people in New Zealand still rely on uncovered water tanks for their
water supply and they found it was necessary to cover these when ash was falling.
Also, many New Zealanders own boats and found they had to take mitigative actions to
protect their boats from corrosion and damage to boat machinery. Management issues
regarding volcanic hazards and volcanic eruptions were also revised as a result of
Mount Ruapehu erupting. It is possible to learn from overseas experiences about
management during a volcanic eruption, but it is also necessary to develop a system
that works for New Zealanders in New Zealand conditions.
Question 19 - Did you suffer any economic loss that was related to the
Ruapehu eruptions of 1995 and 1996?
Figure 15 shows the amounts of money (NZ$) lost by survey respondents as a result of
the Ruapehu eruptions. The most common amount of money lost was in the vicinity of
NZ$10,000.
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Figure 15: Question 19 Did you suffer any economic loss related to the
Ruapehu eruptions?
It is also possible to separate out the different businesses who answered the survey,
and look at the range of loss for each (Figure 16). Six types of business did not suffer
any economic loss. Those businesses were veterinary services, forestry, panel
beating, information services, roading and plumbing. In fact, many of the businesses
involved in the service industry, such as panel beaters, plumbers and veterinary
practices, experienced an increased turnover. Their services were in demand to deal
with the effects of the eruption. Major losses were experienced by the ski industry,
tourist industry, accommodation services, retail and those involved in water sports.
Respondents that ran businesses involved with the ski industry quoted losses of
between NZ$50,000 and NZ$6,000,000. Tourist operators claimed that they had
experienced losses ranging from hundreds of dollars to NZ$3,000,000. Those
respondents that ran businesses to do with accommodation, retail or water sports said
that they suffered losses ranging from hundreds of dollars to NZ$1,000,000.
10,000,000
Loss (NZ$)
1,000,000
100,000
10,000
25
26
27
28
Tourism
24
29
30
Industrial
23
Service Industry
22
Advent. Tourism
Security Services
21
Plumbing
20
Education
19
Health
18
Rentals
17
Roading
16
Trades person
15
Information
14
Water Sports
13
Forestry
12
Panel Beating
11
Retail
Electricity
10
Transport
Professional
Flight Services
Ski Industry
Number of
Respondents
Air-conditioning
Hardware
Accommodation
Veterinary Services
Farming
Food Industry
Horticulture
or less
Category of Business
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Lifestyle adaptations
Frequency
Storage of essential items eg. food, water, wood, first aid kit,
batteries.
Carried mask in car/where you went.
Obtained or wore face protectors/masks.
Packed (or ready to) clothes/treasures for evacuation.
Kept a torch handy.
Financial
Expenditure tightened.
Lifestyle
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Work
3
2
Essential items
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5
3
3
1
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1
1
1
1
1
1
Recreation
7
2
3
1
Vehicles
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Awareness
Other
Question 22 - Did you feel that the eruption caused you or your family
members to suffer any stress related problems?
tu
re
in
g
ur
s
fu
an
ty
of
cle
in
ce
rta
ef
e/
tim
un
fo
rt
i
wo
rk
of
e
e
dg
w
le
kn
o
lo
ng
ru
p
lp
he
of
k
of
ck
la
ho
ti o
ns
c)
(e
q
ss
tre
cia
ls
la
c
ap
th
"w
ha
ba
d
fi n
an
pe
ns
fo
rm
ne
at
io
xt
?"
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
in
Percentage of respondents
In answer to question 22, 45% of participants felt that they or their families had suffered
stress as a result of the 1995 to 1996 Mount Ruapehu eruptions. The most common
causes of stress were due to being uncertain what was going to happen next, financial
pressures, and a general lack of knowledge about volcanic eruptions. Other causes of
stress were bad information that had been given to respondents, lack of assistance in
regards to insurance assessors, longer work hours, the time and effort involved in
cleaning up and an uncertainty of the future (Figure 17).
Type of stress
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The range of benefits experienced is listed in Table 9. The benefit that was most often
quoted by respondents was an increase in plant and grass growth as a result of the
ash fall from Mount Ruapehu.
Benefits
No of People
19
2
1
1
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
8
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
Question 24 - Did you turn to any of the following organisations to ask for
any advice or general information during the Mount Ruapehu eruptions?
The local radio station was where most people turned to receive information (Table
10). While the question is worded to ask for advice, many people acknowledged that
they did not actually ask the radio station for advice, but instead listened to the
presenters to gain information on the eruptions of 1995 and 1996.
The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, the District Councils, and the
Department of Conservation all fielded a number of inquiries from people who wanted
information about Mount Ruapehu.
A variety of other organisations were contacted for advice. The type of organisation
contacted depended on the respondents need, so consequently a whole range of
organisations were called on.
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f
96
35
18
17
15
14
11
8
5
5
5
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
Organisation
Did not turn to any organisation for information
The local radio station
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science
District Council
Department of Conservation
Civil Defence
Insurance Companies (other than the EQC)
Regional Council
The New Zealand Police
NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
Research)
Television news
City Council
Earthquake Commission (EQC)
Newspapers
Civil Aviation Authority
The New Zealand Army
SPCA
Farm adviser
Information hotline phone number
Parliament
Ski/snow reports from mountain ski fields
Metservice
Airways Corporation of New Zealand
Massey University soil science department
Animal health laboratory
Veterinarian
Volcano cam updated pictures of Mt Ruapehu on the
Internet
Soil conservation
Botanical gardens
Hotel Engineer
Local hospital
Question 25 - Were you able to locate and contact these people with
ease? If yes, please list how you already knew of, or how you found out
where to contact these people.
There were 7 respondents who said that they had difficulty in contacting organisations
that they wanted to talk to. Phone overloads appeared to be a contributing factor to
this.
If they were looking for information, most people contacted organisations that they had
made contact with on a previous occasion. For those that had not made previous
contact, the most common way of locating an organisation was to do so using the
telephone book. Other common ways of getting in touch were through meetings that
were arranged, by using information broadcast on the radio or television, or through
standard procedures.
Some respondents knew the physical location of the
organisation and travelled there themselves to make contact.
Instead of approaching an organisation, two survey participants were actually
contacted by particular organisations. The organisations required accommodation
while they were staying in the area close to Mount Ruapehu, and assistance in
cleaning up ash.
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Question 26 - If you sought advice from more than one organisation, who,
in your opinion, was the most helpful?
The results of the survey indicate that no organisation in particular was better than any
other. Most respondents noted that different organisations provided different services
and therefore could not be judged as better or worse. Most had praise for the
different organisations they contacted, stating that the quality of the information
provided was high and that the organisation shared their concerns.
A number of comments were provided regarding the radio stations and insurance
companies. It was felt that at times, the information provided from these places was
less than helpful.
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autumn
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season).
Great impact for horticulture (some cultivation, harvesting).
Comments
The last page of the Ruapehu survey was devoted to comments provided by the survey
participants. There were many interesting comments, and a summary of some of these
is presented in this section. The full list of comments can be found in Appendix III.
The Media
There were a great number of complaints concerning the media. Many thought that the
media were negative, sensationalist and provided inaccurate information.
Respondents thought that this type of reporting discouraged visitors from coming to the
affected area. The overseas media also blew the event out of proportion, and this
served to dissuade overseas tourists from visiting the area. Survey participants felt
that the negative publicity has had a long-term impact on visitor numbers.
Volcanic Hazards
One respondent located at a distance from the erupting Mount Ruapehu, said that they
used the live Volcanocam on the Internet, to predict if there would be any problems
from Mount Ruapehu. If there were pictures of an erupting Mount Ruapehu broadcast
over the Internet, then there was a possibility of ash reaching their location if the wind
was blowing in the correct direction.
Corrosion from Acidic Ash Particles
A number of comments were made by respondents stating that where ash had fallen
on metal surfaces and had not been removed, then the corrosion problems were long
lasting. Survey participants said that they had suffered long term corrosion effects with
metal objects such as guttering, roofs and nails in the roof.
Soak Pits
A few respondents noted that they had problems with ash collecting in their soak pits.
One respondent wrote, It is my view that there exists now a problem on many
properties where soak holes have become less efficient due to the build up of ash
covering over the normally permeable layer of more open material into which rainwater
normally discharges, usually about 5.5 to 7.5 metres below natural ground level.
Management Issues
Some of the comments that respondents provided regarding management of the
Ruapehu eruptions are summarised as follows.
- Some people thought that authorities were caught short and out of their depth.
- There was some discussion of Civil Defences perceived inadequate management
of the situation, and the lack of information available from them.
- Respondents stressed the need for continual, up-to-date information on the state of
the roads, water supply, etc.
- There was a feeling that more resources were needed for scientists monitoring the
volcanoes.
- One respondent suggested that where an impending eruption can be predicted,
people should be forewarned so that businesses can prepare (for example, cut
down on spending) before the event.
- It was suggested that the purchase of a mobile doppler radar would be useful for
monitoring ash plumes.
- Another suggestion by one respondent was to put an extra page in the telephone
directory stating what to do, and who to contact in a volcanic eruption.
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awareness of a number of andesitic volcanic hazards, but knew less about unfamiliar
hazards from rhyolitic or basaltic volcanoes.
Mitigation measures used by respondents to counter the effects of ash were similar to
those determined from past eruptions overseas, although in some cases the
techniques used were not entirely correct. This may be due to incorrect information
being given to the public or to respondents misinterpretation of the information. To
ensure that the mitigation measures employed by the public in a future eruption are
correct, it is essential that accurate and clear information is given to the public. This
will assist in eliminating as much error as possible.
Results and comments from the 1995-1996 Ruapehu survey indicate that many
businesses were unprepared for a volcanic eruption. It is recommended that
businesses take responsibility for preparing their own plan to deal with the effects of a
future eruption. Some suggestions for planning for disaster include:- Establish a communication network made up of people both in and out of the
workplace.
- Be prepared for disasters of many kinds. Know what you are covered for under
insurance.
- Protect critical records. Keep backups of computer files, and keep a copy of critical
records in a secure place off-site.
- Consider employee safety.
- Identify an alternative business site that can be used following a disaster.
- Consider management succession.
- A disaster may strand employees at work. Ensure there are supplies at work and
know how to turn off workplace utilities in a disaster.
- Depending on the type of business, there may be even an increased demand for
goods or services after a disaster (Klimas, 1993; Arvizu, 1995; Barrier, 1998; Offer,
1998).
This document was approved for issue by Environment Waikato on (26 May 1999). It
is intended to review the document in 2003/2004. Note that the Civil Defence Act 1983
has now been replaced by the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act 2002.
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