Kilauea volcano is erupting on Hawaii's Big Island causing, and threatening to cause, damage in many areas. Residents were advised to evacuate on May 3, and they were told to expect to be out of their homes for at least two weeks.
According to recent reports, the number of homes destroyed by lava shooting out of 10 openings in the ground created by has climbed to at least 26, and five other structures have also been destroyed.
Volcanoes are spectacular and are one of the more unusual claims as they tend to occur only in certain states. In addition to Hawaii, the states at risk for volcano damage are Oregon, Alaska, California, Washington and Wyoming, due to their location along certain tectonic plates. There are 500 active volcanoes throughout the world, 500 dormant and many extinct. For a volcano to be considered active, it must have had an eruption within recorded history.
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|A host of hazards
Lava, smoke and ash are the first things that come to mind when volcanoes are mentioned, but there are other hazards as well. Earthquakes, flash floods, mudslides, rock falls and explosions can all cause damage from a volcano. Even though the damage is caused by a volcano, land shock waves or tremors, before, during or after a volcanic eruption, mudslides and flash floods are excluded, but fire is covered.
Rock falls pose an interesting situation. When the lava is molten and moving through an area, it isn't earth movement, as lava is molten rock, not earth. Earth is defined in part as cultivable soil or firm land. Once the lava has hardened, however, it becomes rock; if it then rolls down a hill and destroys property, it would then be excluded.
Under debris removal, the removal of ash, dust or particles from a volcanic eruption is covered as long as the ash, dust or particles cause a direct loss to the property. If enough ash accumulates on the roof to cause it to collapse, then the cost to remove the ash as well as repair the roof is covered.
Dry ash is 10 times as dense as fresh snow, and wet ash is 20 times as dense as fresh snow. When Mt. St. Helens erupted, ash accumulated in some areas up to five inches. Gutters can be filled with ash and pulled off the house, and ash can clog equipment. If the ash just accumulates on the walkway, that has caused no direct damage and therefore removal would not be covered.
Volcano Explosivity Index
The Volcano Explosivity Index is a relative measure of the explosiveness of volcanic eruptions. It measures how much material is ejected, how high the material is thrown into the atmosphere, and how often eruptions occur. On a scale from 0 to 8, the index reads as follows:
0 = non-explosive; plume height <100 m; daily. Kilauea
1 = gentle; plume 100–1000 m; daily. Stromboli
2 = explosive; plume 1–5 km; every 2 weeks. Galeras, 1993
3 = severe; 3–15 km; yearly. Ruiz, 1985
4 = cataclysmic; plume 10–25 km; 10s of years. Galunggung 1982
5 = paroxysmal; plume > 25 km; 100s of years. St. Helens, 1981
6 = colossal; > 25 km; 100s of years. Krakatau, 1883
7 = super-colossal; .25 km; 1000s of years, Tambora, 1815
8 = mega-colossal; > 25 km; 10,000s of years. Yellowstone, Pleistocene era.
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|Volcano preparation steps
There are things you can do to prepare for a volcano.
- Keep goggles and a mask in an emergency kit, with a flashlight and a working battery operated radio.
- Close all doors and windows to avoid ash from getting inside.
- Always stay indoors unless evacuation is necessary. Dangerous gasses can be released from fissures in the ground, and there are concerns about sulfur dioxide with this current eruption. The gas can burn the nose and throat, and cause breathing difficulties. High levels of the gas can be fatal. If evacuation is necessary, follow routes provided by authorities to avoid danger.
- Keep a good inventory of personal items in the home, in order for adequate replacement in the case of destruction.
- Prepare for disasters that can accompany volcanic eruptions such as flooding, fires, and earthquakes. Avoid low-lying areas because lava and mudflows are more likely in those areas.
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Christine G. Barlow, CPCU
Christine G. Barlow, CPCU, is Executive Editor of FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation, a division of National Underwriter Company and ALM. Christine has over thirty years’ experience in the insurance industry, beginning as a claims adjuster then working as an underwriter and underwriting supervisor handling personal lines. Christine regularly presents and moderates webinars on a variety of topics and is an experienced presenter.
