Managing volcanic hazards case studies Flashcards
What is the CVGHM
Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation established in 1920 and monitors over 60 volcanoes
How does Indonesia mitigate and predict lahars?
Indonesia has established a National Agency for Disaster Management. In association with university-based researchers, lahar sensors and closed-circuit television has been installed to monitor locations at the greatest risk
How is vulnerability modified on Mount Merapi?
Permanent settlement is forbidden on the highest slopes around the crater.
Villagers on the southern slopes (at greatest risk) have been encouraged to relocate to safe zones, in some cases receiving financial assistance and a small plot of land as incentives
Why would people return to Mount Merapi?
People still have a strong bond with their village site and their family fields. They often return, rebuild and accept the risks
How does Indonesia modify the loss of hazards?
The resources Indonesia can deploy once an eruption is underway are limited
However Indonesia has some well-trained and well-equipped emergency services, including the military, experienced in search and rescue.
Temporary shelters in safe zones are available in case of evacuation
The authorities have also cleared river channels of volcanic material and other debris in order to reduce risk of flooding and to contain lahars
How does Italy modify the event of a tectonic hazard?
Has had local scale success with slowing and diverting lava flows from Etna.
Earth barriers, large concrete blocks dropped into the lava flow and channels dug to divert flowing lava away from settlement have been used
What institution in Italy helps modify vulnerability?
Volcano Risk Service (CFCRV), which is the basis for decision making such as evacuation orders
What does CFCRV do?
long-term analysis of the eruption patterns of individual volcanoes
International comparison with similar eruptions elsewhere
Constant monitoring
A well-established alert-level sequence understood by emergency services, all levels of government and local people (community preparedness)
closure of airports and airspace when threatened by ash
Research into most effective building design to resist ash falls.
What does the CFCRV do in relation to housing?
Much work is carried out to identify building types of houses most at risk and to offer affordable solutions, e.g. adding a pitched roof to an existing flat roof, which will then shed ash fall
What monitoring does CFCRV do?
Uses seismometers, tiltmeters, analysis of gas emissions, aerial and satellite surveys e.g. infra-red to detect heat; daily and weekly bulletins issued
How does Italy modify the loss from a volcanic eruption?
The Italian government has the resources to compensate individuals and businesses to restore infrastructure
Casualties have been minimal due to timely evacuation based on accurate data and well- trained public services such as the fire service, police and military
