Kilauea is erupting in Hawaii, causing, and threatening to cause damage in many areas. Evacuations began Thursday. Volcanoes are spectacular, and are one of the more unusual claims as they tend to occur only in certain states. As evacuations have been ordered and Kilauea is currently erupting, now is a good time to look at volcanoes.

The states at risk for volcano damage are Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, 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.

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 be part of damage from a volcano. 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. The index is below.

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.

So how does one prepare for a volcano? There are things you can do. 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 current concerns about sulfur dioxide with this current eruption. The gas can burn the nose and throat, and cause breathing difficulties. High levels can be fatal. If evacuation is necessary, follow routes provided by authorities to avoid perils. 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. For a further discussion of coverage, see [Volcano Claims and Coverage.xml^Volcano Claims and Coverage^Volcano Claims and Coverage].