Learning From Experience

Rabaul, New Guinea. Photo credit: MTU Volcanoes.

Disaster Preparedness Saves Lives

In 1984 scientists and community leaders in Rabaul, New Guinea began to prepare for a volcanic eruption. They formed an emergency plan which included:

• educating the public about the hazards and the warning signs
• posting hazard maps with evacuation routes outlined
• practicing evacuation so that everyone knew where to go and how to best mobilize resources

In September of 1994, the people began to notice some of the environmental cues they had been warned about. Before officials had even issued a warning, the public began a spontaneous evacuation. As the last people were leaving, the two volcanoes on either side of the town erupted.

Because the people knew what to watch for and knew how to get to safety, only 3 of 30,000 people died.

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