| During the 1980-86 eruptions of Mount St. Helens, hazards information was quickly disseminated through a U. S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory - U. S. Forest Service notification system. Written and verbal statements issued jointly by the Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) and University of Washington were released to the Forest Service for telephone call-down to governmental agencies and private interests. Once the call-down was underway, public and media information tapes were updated and press releases were issued. Because most of these eruptions had recognizable precursors, a series of information statements and eruption forecasts was issued during the weeks to hours before and eruption, thus providing advance warning of volcanic activity and associated hazards. -- Myers and Theisen, 1994 |
