AHFC Employee Guidance for Mt. Spurr Eruption

Will Mt. Spurr Erupt? Being Prepared Can Make All The Difference!

Most of Southcentral is keeping a close eye on Mt. Spurr, and many of you may have memories of the 1992 eruption. As AHFC employees, we want you to be prepared and ready just in case the temperature rises in the volcano.

AHFC Corporation

From the perspective of the Corporation, our IT department is hard at work making just-in-case preparations to protect our assets. Review the necessary procedures you’ll need to take to protect your work space if you are in the office should an eruption occur. Likewise, our Public Housing department is preparing emergency information for Alaska Housing facilities and tenants. Review those operational actions and communication plans.

Employees

As employees, your safety is our first concern. We’ve created basic guidelines for what you can do personally to protect yourself and your family from the dangers sparked by a volcanic eruption. First and foremost, follow the advice of local officials for information on preparing for a volcanic eruption, and if necessary, on how to evacuate (leave the area) or shelter in place. Download the American Red Cross Volcano Safety Tips in advance!

Stay up-to-date with AHFC actions, instructions and work directives by checking your phone for emergency text messages from the Corporation.. 

For the short-term, take your laptop home each evening, power down your desktop computer before leaving the office and be prepared to telework if necessary. Emergency operations for critical personnel at AHFC facilities can be found here.

Make a plan

Be prepared either to shelter-in-place or to evacuate.

  • Develop an evacuation plan and a sheltering plan for yourself, your family and others in your household
  • Review the plans together so everyone understands what to do

Get supplies in advance

If you haven't already done so, put together an emergency supply kit. Supplies should include:

  • Flashlight, extra batteries, back-up chargers for devices
  • First aid kit and manual
  • Emergency food and water for at least 1 week
  • Include at least one gallon of water per person per day
  • Manual (nonelectric) can opener
  • Essential medicines - at least a 2 week supply
  • Sturdy shoes
  • Respiratory (breathing) protection (mask)
  • Eye protection (goggles)
  • Battery-powered radio
  • Emergency medical records including a list of your medications and dosages

Know how to protect yourself from ash

Exposure to ash can harm your health, particularly the respiratory breathing tract.

  • To protect yourself while you are outdoors or while you are cleaning up ash that has gotten indoors, use a NIOSH Approved N95 respirator (also known as an "air purifying respirator")
  • N95 respirators can be purchased at businesses such as hardware stores
  • Alternatively, use a nuisance dust mask but limit your time outdoors while dust is falling
  • Protect yourself from ash, debris, volcanic smog, which is a toxic air pollutant, and volcanic glass which can harm your health, especially your lungs, eyes and skin
  • Limit your time outdoors
  • Tiny abrasive ash particles are easily inhaled and harmful; they can enter all but the most tightly sealed buildings and machinery
  • Ash particles can be small enough (less than 10 microns) to be inhaled deeply into the lungs

Stay informed

Develop an emergency communication plan

In case family members are separated from one another during a volcanic eruption - a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school - have a plan for getting back together. 

  • Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the “family contact” 
  • Make sure everyone knows the name, address and phone number of the contact
  • Make a copy of the information and place it in your child/children’s school backpack

Prepare your car

  • Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full
  • Place vehicles under cover, if at all possible
  • Limit driving as ash can reduce visibility, clog car engines, damage filters and significantly damage electronics in today’s more modernized vehicles
  • If you must drive, do so with extreme caution as ash can cause roads to be slippery

Prepare your home

  • Fill your clean water containers
  • Fill sinks and bathtubs with water as an extra supply for washing
  • Extensive ash fall can cause power failures and disturb water, transportation and communication systems causing long-term disruption
  • Adjust the thermostat on refrigerators and freezers to the coolest possible temperature so food will stay cooler longer should the power go out
  • Close and lock all windows and outside doors
  • Turn off all heating and air conditioning systems and fans
  • Close the fireplace damper
  • Avoid cleanup until ash has stopped falling
  • Be sure authorities have indicated it is safe to begin cleanup
  • Follow cleanup procedures including wearing appropriated protective gear

Protect pets & Livestock 

  • Put livestock in an enclosed area and keep pets indoors

If you have questions, please contact __________. As part of the AHFC family, stay safe!