Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Regardless of the communication failures during the evacuation exercise most
participants said they would call the emergency number 112 or the police to obtain
information about a Katla eruption. However, telephone communication is likely to
fail or yield busy signals for specifi c phone numbers if the network is oversaturated
with calls. Exceeding the capacity of regional telecommunication systems complicates
the task for emergency management offi cials and scientifi c agencies to gather and dis-
tribute hazard information by telephone (Gregg et al., 2004). It is therefore optimal for
emergency management offi cials to promote public use of the media during a volcanic
crisis. The media can provide an important source of volcanic hazard information for
the public and attention should focus on increasing the planned use of this resource
and ensuring that it provides consistently accurate information (Johnston et al., 1999).
Risk mitigation strategies should include developing a mutually productive relation-
ship between media organizations and emergency management offi cials in the form
of a crisis communication plan to manage the media during a disaster (Hughes and
White, 2006).
Participants demonstrated good knowledge of possible hazards that can occur dur-
ing a future Katla eruption with jökulhlaup, tephra, and lightning cited as the most
serious. Possessing knowledge of possible hazards ensures that the individual is better
equipped to decide whether they should engage in personal preparedness measures and
the most appropriate way to achieve this goal (Paton et al., 2008). Our participants'
knowledge and concern of tephra was highlighted by one individual who stated that
they had taken their own preparedness measures for tephra by purchasing gas masks.
Participant feedback on information provided at the town meetings held to discuss
the possibility of a Katla eruption and the proposed evacuation plan was positive.
Nearly all participants stated that the scientifi c information presented through talks,
simulations and displays was very informative. A fundamental element of the path-
way of information from scientists, emergency management offi cials, and the media
is ensuring that it is delivered to the public in a form that represents community needs
and functions (Gregg et al., 2004; Ronan et al., 2000;). Critical feedback relating to
the lack of knowledge and experience of those presenting material at the meetings and
technical diffi culties should be addressed. Considering that the public are more than
just passive receivers of hazard information (Horlick-Jones et al., 2003; Murdock et al.,
2003), an integrated approach, that facilitates active participation from both residents
and emergency management offi cials within a risk mitigation framework will help
increase public trust, risk acceptance, and willingness to adopt personal preparedness
measures (Paton et al, 2008).
Participation during the evacuation exercise was reasonably good with approxi-
mately 65% of residents taking part. Our sample group of residents refl ected this rate
with 68% stating that they took part. Apart from participating in order to improve per-
sonal safety and preparedness, many participants stated they took part in the exercise
as they believed it was “their duty” to do so. Similarly, Haynes et al. (2008) reported
that during an ongoing volcanic crisis on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat partici-
pants followed orders because it was the right thing to do.
