Volcanic Eruption

Volcanic eruptions in Canada are a rare event. Though infrequent, volcanoes can be catastrophic enough to warrant serious attention (Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, 2010)”. A volcano is a vent in the crust of the Earth’s surface through which molten rock (magma) is extruded onto the surface of the earth as lava and volcanic debris flows, and also into the Earth’s atmosphere as volcanic gases and rock fragments. The District of Squamish sits within the Garibaldi Volcanic belt, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. (Hickson, Mulder & Stasiuk, 2004). The Garibaldi Volcanic belt includes Mt. Garibaldi, Mt. Price, Black Tusk, Mt. Meager, Mt. Cayley, Mt. Fee and Mt. Silverthrone.

Volcanoes are one of the few hazards that typically exhibit clear precursor activity. (Hickson, Mulder & Stasiuk, 2004). Should a volcano erupt in the Squamish area, this precursor activity would give the District time to plan an emergency response, limiting the amount of injury and loss of life. However, an erupting volcano threatens infrastructure such as highways, roads, and railways. Ash can pollute water supplies and collapse buildings, especially when it falls wet. Airborne ash clouds can adversely affect aircraft corridors and the routing of flights. Heavy ash fall may reduce sunlight, causing a sudden demand and possibly brownouts of electrical power. Ash can clog water systems, sewage plants, and all kinds of machinery, cause roofs to collapse and electrical short circuits. Fine ash is extremely slippery, hampering driving and walking. Ash can also damage the lungs of small infants, elderly, and those having respiratory problems (Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, 2010)

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