UpOnly Learning Presents: Family Emergency Guide — Natural Disasters, Power and Internet Outages

Family Emergency Guide

Volcanoes

Last checked: October 26, 2026

Official guidanceThis guide summarizes official guidance. It does not replace instructions from local officials. In the United States, call 911 in an emergency. If your 911 call does not go through.

Related pages: Emergency Kit Checklist · Family Emergency Plan

What it is

  • Ready.gov says, "A volcano is an opening in the Earth's crust that allows molten rock, gases and debris to escape to the surface."[1]
  • Ready.gov says "lava and other debris can flow at speeds of up to 100 mph, destroying everything in their path."[1]
  • Ready.gov says, "Volcanic ash can travel hundreds of miles and cause severe health problems."[1]

Where in the United States

  • The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says most U.S. volcanoes "are found in the Aleutian Islands, the Alaska Peninsula, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest."[3]
  • Ready.gov says, "Alaska, Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon have the largest number of active volcanoes."[1]
  • Ready.gov Kids says, "The danger area around a volcano covers approximately a 20-mile area around the volcano in all directions," and that some danger may reach 100 miles or more.[2]

For students

  • Ready.gov Kids says, "Follow evacuation orders from emergency officials."[2]
  • Ready.gov Kids says, "Look upstream before you cross any bridges to make sure a mudflow is not coming."[2]
  • Ready.gov Kids says, "Text, don't talk."[2]
  • Ready.gov says, "Children should not help with cleanup efforts."[1]

Before

  • Ready.gov says, "Know your area's risk from volcanic eruption."[1]
  • USGS says, "Become familiar with evacuation routes in your community."[4]
  • Ready.gov says, "Have a shelter-in-place plan if your biggest risk is from ash."[1]
  • Ready.gov says, "Consult your doctor if you have existing respiratory difficulties."[1]
  • Ready.gov says, "Have a plan for pets and livestock."[1]
  • The American Red Cross says, "Have N95 respirators, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and goggles," and warns that "N95 respirators do not filter toxic gases and vapors."[9]
  • USGS says its Volcano Notification Service "is a free service of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that sends you emails about volcanic activity."[7]

During

  • The Red Cross says, "Listen carefully to local emergency information."[9]
  • Ready.gov says, "Take temporary shelter from volcanic ash in the location where you are, if you have enough supplies."[1]
  • Ready.gov says, "Cover ventilation openings and seal doors and windows."[1]
  • Ready.gov says, "Use a well-fitting, certified face mask, such as an N95."[1]
  • Ready.gov says, "Avoid driving in heavy ash fall."[1]
  • For lahars (volcanic mudflows), USGS says to get to high ground and to "STAY OFF VALLEY FLOORS AND OUT OF LOW-LYING AREAS."[4]

Ashfall

  • USGS says, "Tiny abrasive ash particles are easily inhaled and harmful."[4]
  • USGS says, "Follow the advice of your local Civil Defense or Emergency Management officials."[5]
  • USGS says, "Stay indoors," and "Keep ash out of the house by keeping doors and windows shut."[5]
  • Ready.gov says to protect yourself "from falling ash that can irritate skin and injure breathing passages, eyes and open wounds."[1]
  • Under a volcano warning, Ready.gov says to "use a dust mask or cloth mask as a last resort if you must be outside."[1]
  • USGS says, "Do not overload phone networks with non-emergency calls."[5]
  • The Red Cross says, "Volcanic ash can make drinking water unsafe."[9]

After

  • Ready.gov says, "Stay indoors until authorities say it is safe to go outside."[1]
  • Ready.gov says, "Avoid driving in heavy ash. Driving will stir up volcanic ash that can clog engines and stall vehicles."[1]
  • USGS says, "Avoid cleanup until ash has stopped falling."[4]
  • Ready.gov says, "Do not get on your roof to remove ash unless you have guidance or training."[1]
  • Ready.gov says, "Wear protective clothing and a mask when cleaning up."[1]
  • The Red Cross says to throw out food exposed to ash, heat, smoke, fumes, or chemicals: "When in doubt, throw it out!"[9]

Watch vs. Warning (USGS and NWS)

  • USGS says, "Notifications about the status of activity at U.S. volcanoes are issued through the five regional U.S. Volcano Observatories."[6]
  • NORMAL: "Volcano is in typical background, noneruptive state."[6]
  • ADVISORY: "Volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level."[6]
  • WATCH: "Volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption, timeframe uncertain."[6]
  • WARNING: "Hazardous eruption is imminent, underway, or suspected."[6]
  • Ashfall Advisory (NWS): Issued for "a minor eruption where the public will be affected by a limited hazard extent," such as "less than ¼ inch of ashfall accumulation."[8]
  • Ashfall Warning (NWS): Issued for "a major eruption where the public will be affected to a significant extent," such as "greater than or equal to ¼ inch of ashfall accumulation, significant debris, lava or lahar flows."[8]
  • See Where to Get Official Alerts.

Sources

Last checked: October 26, 2026. Each numbered source below was opened and checked on the date shown. Numbers in brackets in the text, like [1], point to this list.

  1. [1] Ready.gov (FEMA), Volcanoes
    Published by
    Ready.gov (FEMA)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.ready.gov/volcano
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  2. [2] Ready.gov (FEMA), Know the Facts: Volcano (Kids)
    Published by
    Ready.gov (FEMA)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.ready.gov/kids/know-the-facts/volcano
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  3. [3] USGS, FAQ: Where does the United States rank in number of volcanoes?
    Published by
    U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.usgs.gov/index.php/faqs/where-does-united-states-rank-number-volcanoes
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  4. [4] USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory, What do you do when a volcano erupts? Actions to take
    Published by
    U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.usgs.gov/observatories/cvo/what-do-you-do-when-volcano-erupts-actions-take
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  5. [5] USGS Volcano Hazards Program, Volcanic Ash Impacts & Mitigation: For Public
    Published by
    U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanic_ash/for_public.html
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  6. [6] USGS Volcano Hazards Program, Volcanic alert-levels characterize conditions at U.S. volcanoes
    Published by
    U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  7. [7] USGS, Volcano Notification Service (VNS)
    Published by
    U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  8. [8] National Weather Service, Glossary: Ashfall
    Published by
    National Weather Service (NWS)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php?word=ashfall
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  9. [9] American Red Cross, Volcano Preparedness Checklist (PDF)
    Published by
    American Red Cross
    Level
    Not a government agency (non-governmental organization)
    Found at
    www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/get-help/pdfs/volcano/EN-Volcano-Preparedness-Checklist.pdf
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026

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