Scientists provide the information that guides the entire emergency
response. This information is then presented to the EMC or its
equivalent, which will decide on the appropriate emergency strategy.
A clear focus on assessing the volcano's behaviour is therefore
crucial. Distractions in deciding emergency management procedures
are normally counter-productive, and so it is recommended that
a single scientist is given responsibility to liaise with the
EMC. This individual should sit on the EMC and work particularly
closely with the EMC's science liaison officer. From the monitoring
team's point of view, such an arrangement will allow the core
of the scientific team can concentrate on monitoring the volcano.
Decide which scientist will liaise with the Emergency Management
Committee and ensure that a good working relationship is established.
Agree responsibilities with the civil authorities. Remember
that your role is to provide advice and not to take decisions
about emergency responses.
Clarify with the EMC the format in which you will provide them
with information.
Ensure that the EMC is familiar with possible eruption scenarios
and their impact.
Offer aid in designing basic plans that can be activated rapidly
once a crisis starts to develop.
Work with the EMC to develop hazard and risk zonation maps and
an effective system of alert levels.
Offer to play an active role in helping to educate the public
about the volcanic threat. Provide individuals to talk at public
meetings, to schools and other institutions, and on radio and
television. Offer your expertise in preparing and disseminating
literature and encourage and take a full part in regular exercises
and simulations.
Ensure that effective and reliable means of communication are
established and maintained with the EMC. Bear in mind that eruptive
activity
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may make travel difficult and damage
exposed phone lines and ensure that alternative methods - pagers
and VHF radios - are available and used.
Draw up a timetable for regular meetings with the EMC science
liaison officer. These should be at least daily and more frequently
during periods of elevated activity or eruption.
Offer to the EMC, the services of your dedicated media spokesperson
for press conferences and announcements, for drawing up information
releases to the media and the public, and for making presentations
to stakeholders such as aid agencies and chambers of commerce.
Remember that your representative is charged with explaining
the scientific basis for an emergency response and must avoid
taking on any responsibility for emergency management decisions
from the civil authorities.
Always listen to the concerns of the Emergency Management Committee.
NEVER with-hold information from the Emergency Management Committee.
DO NOT make decisions that might affect the welfare of the local
population without the agreement of the EMC.
NEVER show your anger or frustration with the EMC. Remember
they are required to make crucial, life-or-death decisions under
conditions of extreme pressure.
Media attention is commonly a major distraction
for the scientific monitoring team, so it is vital
that a member of the team is given sole
responsibility for liaising with the media. This
individual should have good communication
skills and previous experience of involvement
with the media. Even so, it is likely that individual
journalists and broadcasters will still attempt to
approach and interview other members of the
monitoring team, in part to obtain extra
information, but also to find new and different
'angles' or to tease out an 'exclusive' story. In the
latter cases, careless comments can be
exaggerated to form the basis of a 'scoop', the
gist of which is almost always negative and
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