Preparing for a Volcanic Eruption
It’s me again, Erica. With Mt. Redoubt threatening to erupt my mom thought that it would be good to post some information on what you can do if you are caught with volcanic ash in your yard. This is an excerpt from one of mom’s articles which appears in Meridian Magazine today:
Ash can fall hundreds of miles away. If there is ash falls in your area:
Stay inside. Close doors, windows and dampers. Roll towels and place at the bottom of outside doors. Cover windows with blankets or plastic.
When outside, wear an N95 face mask. Remember that these masks may not fit small children properly and can be held more securely in place by tying a damp bandanna over the mask. Masks may make breathing more difficult for people with impaired respiratory systems and children. Keep them indoors as much as possible. Contact your doctor if breathing becomes labored.
Keep pets indoors.
Replace disposable furnace filters or clean permanent furnace filters soon and frequently.
If you wear contact lenses, protect your eyes by wearing glasses or protective goggles, and remove your contacts.
If you find ash in your drinking water, do not drink it.
Have your chimney cleaned before starting a fire.
Clean ash off of electronics you have wrapped before unwrapping.
Clear ash more than three inches deep from flat or low-pitched roofs.
Clean rain gutters often so they don’t become clogged.
Clean furniture by using a feather duster or vacuum. Ash will scratch your furniture if rubbed.
Shake ash off all clothing and bedding. Wash all clothing and bedding before wearing.
Leave the ash outdoors by removing outer clothing before entering your home.
Wash ash off cans of food before opening. Ash will clog your drains so if you have much accumulation, rinse things off with a hose in the yard.
Minimize travel.
Change oil and air filters in your automobile frequently, as long as any ash is present in your community.
Outdoors, slightly dampen ash before sweeping and then bag the ash in a plastic bag.
If a pet has ash on them after being outside, brush them off. Do not wash them as the ash will become thick and impossible to remove.
Restrict the movement of outdoor animals such as horses so they are not creating ash dust and breathing it in.
Remove an outdoor pet’s or livestock’s water source until it is safe to place clean water out for them. Do this as soon as possible.
