Emergency Preparedness and Response: Volcanoes

After an Eruption

After a volcano erupts, it can leave very harmful contaminants in the air that can make it difficult to breathe, such as ash and gases. This smoke and thicker air can increase the risk of an asthma episode. You should only be outdoors for short periods while dust is falling. Be sure to cover your nose and mouth with a mask or damp cloth when going out. The ashfall from the eruption may become stuck on your roof or porch. This ash needs to be removed carefully to prevent it from entering your home.

Always follow all special instructions from your local officials. This includes whether it is safe to return home if you were evacuated. The resources provided below will give you information on what actions to take after an eruption.

After an Eruption

Key Facts About Protecting Yourself After a Volcanic Eruption 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a list of directions for keeping yourself and your family safe after a volcanic eruption.

• Turn off all heating and air conditioning units and fans and close windows, doors, and fireplace and woodstove dampers to help prevent ash and gases from entering your home.
• Replace disposable furnace filters or clean permanent furnace filters frequently.
• If your drinking water has ash in it, use another source of drinking water, such as purchased bottled water, until your water can be tested.
• Stay away from ashfall areas, if possible. Avoid contact with ash as much as you can.
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Cleanup After an Eruption

Cleaning Up: Inside
For cleaning inside the home after a volcanic event, the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program offers the following best practices and actions to avoid:

• Things to do:
  • Wear a mask, preferably an industry-certified facemask (such as the N95, P2, FFP2, or equivalent) before starting to clean. If you don’t have one, use a wet cloth.
  • Ensure good ventilation by opening all doors and windows before you start cleaning.
  • Clean your home when public works crews are cleaning the areas outside of your home as a coordinated approach.
  • Use only one entrance to the building while cleaning to ensure occupants do not bring ash into clean areas.
  • Use a dustless method of cleaning, such as washing with water and an effective detergent/wetting agent. Damp rag techniques or vacuuming should be used whenever possible.
  • Take care when cleaning to avoid further contamination during the emptying and maintenance of vacuum equipment.
  • After vacuuming, carpets and upholstery may be cleaned with a detergent shampoo. Avoid excess rubbing action because the sharp ash participles may cut textile fibers.
  • Dab rather than wipe and use a damp mop or wet cloth to clean hard floors.
  • Brush or shake clothes before washing. Ash-coated fabrics should be rinsed under running water and then washed carefully, or they can be taken outside and beaten to remove ash.
  • Replace venting filters, clean refrigerator air intakes, and clean any surface that may blow air and recirculate the ash. Stove, fans and vents should be cleaned thoroughly.
  • Keep children indoors and discourage play in dusty settings.
  • Keep pets indoors. If pets go out, brush them before letting them indoors.
  • Dispose small amounts of ash on your property by spreading thinly over the lawn and garden, where possible. Rainfall, or a light sprinkling of water, will help mix the ash into the soil.
• Things to avoid doing:
  • Do not use floor sweepers with side brushes to clear aisles and floors because they may re-entrain dust participles into the air.
  • Do not clean by blowing with compressed air or dry sweeping as ash will be remobilized into the air.
  • Do not use fans or electric clothes dryers, which might remobilize ash.
  • Do not overfill trash bags as they will be too heavy to lift safely.
  • Do not dispose of ash into drains as it will cause blockage and be very difficult to remove.
  • Do not dispose of ash in your regular trash collection. Ash will make trash bags and bins too heavy to collect and does not to be disposed of in landfills.
  • Do not soak the ash as it will cake into a hard mass, making cleanup more difficult.
  • Do not dump the ash in gardens or on the roadside.

Outside the Home

Cleaning outside of your home will be very different from cleaning inside. Do not track ash or debris back inside when going back and forth while cleaning. This will limit the risk of ash becoming stuck to your clothes, floors, and household furniture. Use the resources below to follow safety guidelines for cleaning outdoors.

Urban Areas 
The U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program lists instructions for cleaning outside the home. [url; USGS]

• Wait until ash has stopped falling and you have cleaned indoors before starting any outdoor cleanup.
• Cover open drains so ash does not enter drainage systems.
• Use small amounts of water to prevent ash from lifting into the air. Too much water can cause ash to become cemented and much more difficult to remove.
• Cover windows, doors, and air intakes with plastic to keep ash out of buildings.
• Remove outdoor clothing before entering a building.
• Clean the outside of houses by sweeping ash away with a soft brush.
• Vacuum or gently blow away excess ash from air intakes, then wipe down with a cloth. Avoid cleaning with water as this may clog radiator fins and increase the risk of short-circuiting.
• Wait until all outdoor areas are cleared of ash before turning on HVAC systems.
• If it can be done safely, clear ash gently from solar panels using soapy water and a soft brush, such as a long-handled window cleaning brush.
• Use shovels for removing thick ash deposits, then sweep up with a broom for driveways.
• Wind and rain will naturally remove some ash from your roof, but after approximately a week, any remaining ash should be removed to prevent corrosion to roofing materials.
• Consider using roof ladders or crawl boards to prevent unnecessary damage to roofing materials while clearing a roof. Be aware that lap shingles and other lap roofing materials are very prone to damage.
• Sweep ash off the roof onto the ground. Clean gutters with a gutter scoop or a small trowel. Consider removing gutter sections during roof cleanup to prevent them from breaking.
• If you have soak pits under your gutters, disconnect downpipes from gutters to prevent ash from clogging the soak pits.

Ash and Debris

When removing ash and other debris after a volcanic eruption, you must take precautions to protect yourself. The resources below provide information on the dangers of ashfall and how to safely remove debris.

Volcanic Ashfall 
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium provides details on cleanup methods for ashfall. [url; ANTHC]

Debris Removal 
FEMA provides instructions and research on the safe removal of debris after an eruption. [url; FEMA]

 

 

Latest page update: September 10, 2024.