[EAS] Volcano Warning - the unused event code

[Adrienne Abbott]

Sean--
Yes, VOW is on the Nevada list of Event Codes likely to be used in the
state. The potential for volcanic activity is constant here in the West.
While most western volcanoes are currently dormant, Nevada's volcanoes are
on that USGS list as "potentially active", which means we'd be foolish to
ignore the potential of a Mt. St. Helens situation. In addition, we would be
the "resource area" for the eastern Sierra's Long Valley Caldera if it or
any of its sisters blew, something the USGS volcanologists assure us could
happen at any time. 

There is almost daily volcanic activity in Alaska and Hawai'i. Most of the
time, these volcanoes expend their energy seismically, as earthquakes, with
the potential for Tsunamis, at the Watch or Warning level. And there's the
occasional lava flow, which we saw earlier this year on Hilo. It remains up
to the vulcanologists at USGS and state/local emergency officials to decide
whether and when that activity reaches the level for an EAS activation and
the appropriate Event Code to use. But I can assure you that most emergency
officials here in the West are aware of the VOW Event Code.   

Adrienne Abbott, W6BCY
Nevada EAS Chair

-----Original Message-----
From: EAS On Behalf Of Sean Donelan

VOW, Volcano Warning, is the only event code never used in IPAWS.  Not even
by accident, which explains the other rarely used event codes.