Volcano Eruption Prep: Family Safety Checklist

This guide walks you through a practical, step-by-step plan to prepare your home and family for a volcanic eruption. You’ll learn what to stock, how to protect your house, when to evacuate, and how to stay safe during and after ashfall. Start by checking your local hazard zone and evacuation routes, then work through the checklist below.

What You’ll Need

• N95 respirator masks (one per person, plus extras)
• Safety goggles or tight-fitting glasses
• Duct tape and plastic sheeting (to seal windows and doors)
• Bottled water (at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3–7 days)
• Non-perishable food (3–7 day supply) and a manual can opener
• Flashlights, batteries, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• First aid kit and any prescription medications (7-day supply)
• Important documents in a waterproof container (IDs, insurance, medical records)
• Cash in small bills (ATMs may be down)
• Cell phone chargers and a power bank
• Garbage bags, moist towelettes, and hand sanitizer
• Sturdy shoes, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts for everyone
• Dustpan, broom, and a shovel for ash cleanup
• Extra car fuel and a full tank if evacuation is likely
• Pet supplies: food, water, leash, carrier, and ID tags

Step-by-Step

1. Know your risk zone. Check with your local emergency management office or geological survey to see if your home is in a lava, lahar, or ashfall zone. Understand the difference between a watch and a warning.
2. Map evacuation routes. Identify at least two ways out of your area. Mark them on a paper map (GPS may fail) and practice driving them once a month, especially with family members who don’t drive.
3. Build a go-bag. Pack a backpack per person with the items listed above. Keep it near the front door or in your car trunk. Include a copy of your emergency plan and contact numbers.
4. Stock a home shelter kit. For ashfall, you’ll need plastic sheeting, duct tape, and towels to seal doors and windows. For a lahar or lava flow, you’ll need to leave, so prioritize your go-bag over sealing.
5. Protect your home from ash. If you have time before ash arrives, cover electronics with plastic bags, disconnect gutters (to prevent clogging), and turn off HVAC systems that draw outside air. Seal windows and doors with tape and plastic.
6. Plan for water and food. Fill bathtubs and containers with water before an eruption if you have warning. Store at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food that doesn’t require cooking (ash can contaminate power and gas lines).
7. Set up a communication plan. Choose an out-of-area contact who can relay messages. Text is more reliable than calls. Agree on a meeting point if you get separated.
8. Prepare for ashfall. If ash is forecast, stay indoors with windows closed. Put damp towels under doors. Turn off air conditioning and fans. Keep pets inside.
9. Know when to evacuate. Follow official orders immediately. Do not wait for visible lava or lahars. Grab your go-bag, turn off gas and electricity at the mains (if instructed), and leave using your planned route.
10. If you’re caught outside, seek shelter in a building or vehicle. Cover your mouth with a cloth or mask. If you’re in a car, pull over, turn off the engine, and stay inside with windows up.
11. After the initial eruption, listen to the radio for updates. Avoid driving unless necessary—ash can clog engines and reduce visibility. If you must drive, keep windows up and use headlights.
12. Clean up ash safely. Wear a mask and goggles. Wet the ash lightly with a hose to keep it from becoming airborne, then shovel it into bags. Do not use a leaf blower or broom (it stirs up dust).

Common Mistakes

• Waiting for a visible eruption. By the time you see lava or a lahar, it’s often too late. Follow official warnings early.
• Using a regular dust mask. Standard paper masks don’t filter fine ash particles. Use an N95 or higher.
• Driving through ash. Ash can stall your car and clog air filters. If you must drive, keep speed low and replace the filter afterward.
• Forgetting pets. Animals also need masks (if available), food, water, and a safe carrier. They can suffer respiratory distress from ash.
• Ignoring roof load. Wet ash is heavy. If more than a few inches accumulate, it can collapse a roof. Remove it carefully, but avoid going onto the roof while ash is falling.
• Not sealing windows before ash arrives. Once ash is in the air, opening windows to seal them lets ash in. Do it as soon as you get a warning.

Tips

• Keep a pair of old shoes and gloves in your go-bag—ash is abrasive and can cause blisters.
• Store important documents in a fireproof and waterproof safe, not just a plastic bag.
• If you have a basement, use it as a shelter during ashfall—it’s easier to seal and has less air exchange.
• Practice your evacuation drill at night and in bad weather; you may need to leave in the dark.
• For young children, pack a comfort item and a few small toys to reduce stress.
• Keep your car’s gas tank at least half full at all times during an active volcano period.
• Learn the difference between a lahar (fast-moving mudflow) and a lava flow—lahars are more dangerous and can travel far from the volcano.

Troubleshooting

What if ash starts falling before you’ve sealed your home? Close all windows and doors immediately. Use wet towels or sheets to block gaps under doors. Turn off any ventilation that draws outside air. If you have time, tape plastic over windows, but prioritize your own breathing—wear a mask if you go near openings.

Your go-bag is missing or incomplete. Don’t panic. Grab the essentials: water, a mask, a flashlight, and any medications. You can improvise a mask with a damp cloth. If you have a car, keep a spare water bottle and blanket in it.

You’re stuck in traffic during an evacuation. Turn off your engine to save fuel. Listen to the radio for alternate routes. If you have a map, plot a detour. Do not abandon your car unless you’re certain you can walk to safety—lahars can move faster than a person.

Power goes out and your phone dies. Use a hand-crank or battery radio. If you have a car, you can charge your phone using the car’s USB port (but don’t run the engine in an enclosed garage). Keep a paper list of emergency contacts.

Someone in your family has asthma or breathing issues. Keep extra inhalers or nebulizer supplies in your go-bag. If ash is heavy, stay in a sealed room and use a HEPA filter if available. Seek medical help if breathing becomes difficult—ash can trigger severe attacks.

Your roof is accumulating ash and you’re worried about collapse. Do not go onto the roof while ash is falling—it’s slippery and you could fall. If you have a flat roof, you can use a long-handled broom from a window to push ash off, but only if safe. If you see sagging, leave the building immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long should I stay indoors after ashfall? A: Stay indoors until officials say it’s safe. Ash can remain in the air for days. Keep windows closed and use air purifiers if available. Even after it stops falling, avoid stirring up ash outdoors.

Q: Can I drink tap water during an eruption? A: Not always. Ash can contaminate water supplies. Follow local advisories. If in doubt, use bottled water or boil water for at least one minute before drinking (but note that boiling doesn’t remove chemicals).

Q: What should I do if I have to evacuate but have no car? A: Contact your local emergency office for transportation assistance. If you have neighbors with cars, arrange a ride in advance. Have a backup plan with a friend or relative who can pick you up.

Q: Is it safe to use a generator during a power outage? A: Yes, but only outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows and doors. Never run a generator inside a garage or basement—carbon monoxide can be fatal. Keep fuel in approved containers.

Q: How do I protect my electronics from ash? A: Shut them down and cover with plastic bags or cloth. Unplug them to avoid power surges. After the ash settles, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean surfaces before turning them on.

Q: What about my garden and livestock? A: Bring small animals inside. For larger livestock, provide shelter and clean water. Ash can coat plants—rinse them with water if possible, but don’t eat produce that’s heavily coated until washed thoroughly.

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