DISASTER READINESS
AND RISK REDUCTION
MIKO ANSELM A. GALLON SST I
MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING
COMPETENCIES
Interpret different volcano hazard
maps. DRR11/12-Ih-i-25
Activity: Look out for the Warnings
Read the following passages carefully. Analyze and
determine the recognized sign of an impending volcanic
eruption in each case study.
Activity: Look out for the Warnings
Mount Pinatubo is found on an island of the Philippines. The island is densely populated
with large towns and tourist sites. Mount Pinatubo had not erupted in 500 years. For the
past 500 years, small bursts of steam would shoot from a hot spring on the volcano. On
July 16th, 1990, a magnitude 7.8 quake shook the volcano. This earthquake was followed
by a series of smaller earthquakes and increase in steam activity for one week. After the
week, however, the volcano appeared to return to dormancy.
In March and April 1991, earthquakes returned and steam activity increased again. The
steam explosions created three craters towards the top of the volcano. For the next
three months, steam explosions continued to increase in frequency. On June 7th, the
first magma explosion erupted. Though the eruption was weak, geologists decided to
evacuate the area. On June 15th, a large explosive eruption demolished the area,
resulting in one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history.
Activity: Look out for the Warnings
Nevado Del Ruiz is a volcano located in the Andes Mountains. In November 1985, the
volcano began to experience earthquakes. For the next two months, geologists recorded
10 earthquakes per day. Scientists observed small spouts of steam shot from the top of
the volcano each day. Scientists feared that a major eruption would come soon. By
February 1985, however, the earthquakes and steam ejections stopped. Geologists still
feared an eruption, but town politicians refused to evacuate. They believed that the
volcano would not erupt because the earthquakes stopped.
The volcano stayed silent for several more months. On October 1985, one year after
earthquakes began; a large eruption shook the volcano. The volcano exploded in a major
and sudden eruption. The eruption was so strong, people could not evacuate. In the end,
25,000 people had died.
Volcanic Hazards
Seismic hazard is the hazard related with
probable earthquakes in a particular area. The
possible hazards caused by an earthquake is
normally shown in a seismic hazard map that
shows how likely can a disaster affect the lives
of people living in that area and how can they
prepare better for the approaching disaster.
Volcanic Hazards
The volcano authority in the Philippines
is the Philippine Institute of Volcanology
and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). The alert level
system used by PHIVOLCS runs from Alert
Level 0 (lowest) to Alert Level 5 (highest) as
shown in the table in the next slide.
ALERT
DESCRIPTION VOLCANIC ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATION
LEVEL
• Quiet
• No eruption in the
0 NO ALERT
foreseeable
future
• No entry in the 6-
• Low level unrest
km radius
1 ABNORMAL • No eruption
Permanent Danger
imminent
Zone (PDZ)
ALERT
DESCRIPTION VOLCANIC ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATION
LEVEL
• Moderate unrest
• Unrest probably of • Extension of 6-km
INCREASING
2 magmatic origin, PDZ to 7-km
UNREST could eventually danger zone
lead to eruption
INCREASING • Relatively high • Extension of the
danger zone in the
TENDENCY unrest
3 sector where the
TOWARDS • Magma is close to crater rim is low will
ERUPTION the crater. be considered
ALERT
DESCRIPTION VOLCANIC ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATION
LEVEL
• Intense unrest • Extension of danger
HAZARDOUS zone to 8km or more in
• Hazardous
4 ERUPTION the sector where the
eruption is possible crater rim is low will be
IMMINENT within days. recommended
• Additional danger areas
may be identified during
HAZARDOUS • Hazardous an on-going eruption.
5 Aircrafts will also be
ERUPTION eruption ongoing
warned from the dangers
of ash cloud encounter.
Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ)
What is the importance of PDZ?
If Alert Level 1 is declared, people are not
allowed to enter or go within PDZ. This zone
indicates that there must be no permanent
habitation, because of the danger of volcanic
hazards. Residents within PDZ are requested to
evacuate.
What is the difference between an active,
erupting, dormant and extinct volcano?
An active volcano is a volcano that has had
at least one eruption during the past 10,000
years. An active volcano might be erupting or
dormant.
An erupting volcano is an active volcano
that is having an eruption.
What is the difference between an active,
erupting, dormant and extinct volcano?
A dormant volcano is an active volcano that
is not erupting, but supposed to erupt again.
An extinct volcano has not had an eruption
for at least 10,000 years and is not expected
to erupt again in a comparable time scale of
the future.
Volcanoes can be very dangerous to
human beings. History proves that in every
volcanic eruption there is always a great
damage in terms of lives and properties.
Therefore, people must know how to
read and understand precautions in order
to reduce the amount of damages that it
may possibly cause.
SAMPLE
HAZARD MAPS
MAYON – LAHAR
SAMPLE
HAZARD MAPS
MAYON – ASH FALL
SAMPLE
HAZARD MAPS
BULUSAN –
PYROCLASTIC FLOW
SAMPLE
HAZARD MAPS
TAAL –
BALISTIC
PROJECTILES
Precautionary and Safety
Measures
A. What must be done BEFORE a volcanic
eruption?
1. Be familiar with volcano hazard maps.
Determine if your location is within the
permanent danger zone.
2. Be updated with the volcanic alert levels,
and follow the recommended actions by
government officials or authorities.
What must be done BEFORE a volcanic
eruption?
3. Identify designated evacuation areas, and be
updated with the recent volcanic activity.
4. Prepare emergency and survival kits. Stock enough
food and potable water. Prepare dust masks and
goggles for every member of the family as
protection from volcanic ash.
5. Secure a list of emergency hotlines in your
community.
B. What must be done DURING a volcanic
eruption?
1. Be updated with the news for advice
and latest information.
2. Follow any evacuation orders from
authorities.
3. Stay out the designated danger zones.
B. What must be done DURING a volcanic
eruption?
4. Stay inside your house if it is located outside
the danger zones. It is also safe to stay in
designated evacuation areas.
5. Do not drive. Ash fall can reduce road visibility.
6. Protect yourself from volcanic ash by wearing a
dust mask and goggles, and long-sleeved shirt
and long pants.
B. What must be done DURING a volcanic
eruption?
7. Protect pets or animals, and livestock
from breathing volcanic ash by placing
them in closed shelters
8. Close all windows and doors to avoid
contact or inhalation of ash.
C. What must be done AFTER a volcanic
eruption?
1. Be updated with the latest volcanic alert
levels.
2. Check for your loved ones or people around
you who are injured or who experience
respiratory conditions such as asthma and
chronic bronchitis.
C. What must be done AFTER a volcanic
eruption?
3. It is only safe to go back home, most
especially within PDZ, if it is already declared
by the authorities.
4. Clean up your house to remove volcanic ash.
Clear your roof of ash fall, which can cause
houses to collapse because of its heavy
weight.
C. What must be done AFTER a volcanic
eruption?
5. Continue wearing a dust mask and goggles, and
long-sleeved shirt and long pants if volcanic ash
is still present in your area.
6. Report any damages in your house, buildings, or
in other structures that can endanger people.
7. Clear roads from pyroclastic materials and
ashes.
EVALUATION
1. ______________ is an alert level of volcanic activity which is
moderately unrest, unrest probably because of magmatic origin,
and could eventually lead to eruption.
2. ______________ is an alert level of volcanic activity which has
imminent hazardous eruption imminent, intense unrest and
hazardous eruption that is possible within days.
3. ______________ is an alert level of volcanic activity which has
increasing tendency towards eruption; relatively high unrest
magma is close to the crater.
EVALUATION
4. ______________ is an alert level of volcanic activity which
has ongoing hazardous eruption.
5. ______________ is a volcano that has had at least one
eruption during the past 10,000 years. It might be erupting
or dormant.
6. ______________ is an active volcano that is having an
eruption.
EVALUATION
7. ______________ is an active volcano that is not erupting,
but supposed to erupt again.
8. ______________ has not had an eruption for at least
10,000 years and is not expected to erupt again in a
comparable time scale of the future.
