Managing public and media response to a reawakening volcano: lessons from the 2004 eruptive activity of Mount St. Helens

Peter M. Frenzen; Michael T. Matarrese

doi:10.3133/pp175023

Managing public and media response to a reawakening volcano: lessons from the 2004 eruptive activity of Mount St. Helens: Chapter 23 in A volcano rekindled: the renewed eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004-2006

Professional Paper 1750-23

This report is Chapter 23 in A volcano rekindled: the renewed eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004-2006. For more information, see: Professional Paper 1750

By: Peter M. Frenzen and Michael T. Matarrese

Edited by: David R. Sherrod, William E. Scott, and Peter H. Stauffer

https://doi.org/10.3133/pp175023

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Abstract

Volcanic eruptions and other infrequent, large-scale natural disturbances pose challenges and opportunities for public-land managers. In the days and weeks preceding an eruption, there can be considerable uncertainty surrounding the magnitude and areal extent of eruptive effects. At the same time, public and media interest in viewing developing events is high and concern for public safety on the part of local land managers and public safety officials is elevated. Land managers and collaborating Federal, State, and local officials must decide whether evacuations or restrictions to public access are necessary, the appropriate level of advance preparation, and how best to coordinate between overlapping jurisdictions. In the absence of a formal Federal or State emergency declaration, there is generally no identified source of supplemental funding for emergency-response preparation or managing extraordinary public and media response to developing events. In this chapter, we examine responses to escalating events that preceded the 2004 Mount St. Helens eruption and changes in public perception during the extended period of the largely nonexplosive, dome-building eruption that followed. Lessons learned include the importance of maintaining up-to-date emergency-response plans, cultivating close working relationships with collaborating agencies, and utilizing an organized response framework that incorporates clearly defined roles and responsibilities and effective communication strategies.

Suggested Citation

Frenzen, P.M., Matarrese, M.T., 2008, Managing public and media response to a reawakening volcano: lessons from the 2004 eruptive activity of Mount St. Helens: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1750-23, 11 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp175023.

ISSN: 2330-7102 (online)

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Report
Publication Subtype	USGS Numbered Series
Title	Managing public and media response to a reawakening volcano: lessons from the 2004 eruptive activity of Mount St. Helens
Series title	Professional Paper
Series number	1750-23
DOI	10.3133/pp175023
Year Published	2008
Language	English
Publisher	U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location	Reston, VA
Contributing office(s)	Volcano Hazards Program
Description	11 p.
Larger Work Type	Report
Larger Work Subtype	USGS Numbered Series
Larger Work Title	A volcano rekindled: the renewed eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004-2006 (Professional Paper 1750)
First page	493
Last page	503
Country	United States
State	Washington
Other Geospatial	Mount St. Helens