Oversight Hearing on "Volcano Hazards: Exploring the National Preparation and Response Strategy"

House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
November 19, 2014

Witnesses
Dr. Charles Mandeville
Volcano Hazards Program Coordinator, U.S. Geological Survey
Mr. Tom Drean
Director and State Geologist, Wyoming State Geological Survey
Mr. Gordon Ito
Insurance Commissioner, State of Hawaii
Dr. Shanaka de Silva
Professor of Geology and Geophysics, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University
Mr. Darryl Oliviera

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On November 19, the House Natural Resources Committee Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on U.S. preparedness for and response to volcanic hazards.

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Hurricane Sandy struck the U.S. East Coast in October 2012, leaving about $65 billion of damage in its wake and raising the question of how to mitigate the damage from future storms. It’s a question that arises in the wake of most natural disasters: What steps can society take to protect itself from storms, floods, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis or volcanic eruptions? But the question itself illustrates the complexity of preparing for natural disasters.

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U.S. Forest Service study will examine wildfire effects on watersheds

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NASA to test unmanned aerial systems for wildfire detection

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EARTH Magazine: Kilauea eruptions could shift from mild to wild

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is famously effusive: Low-viscosity lava has been oozing out of the main caldera and two active rift zones along the southern shore of the Big Island since 1983. But scientists suspect that Kilauea’s eruptions haven’t always been so mild. In the past 2,500 years, at least two cycles of explosive eruptions lasting several centuries each have rocked the island. The switch from effusive to explosive is likely to occur again, scientists say, but probably not anytime soon.

The Geoscience Community Honors the Man Who shook Up Earthquake Science

he American Geosciences Institute is honoring one of the scientists who advanced earthquake hazards preparedness and mitigation in the U.S. by his superlative service to the earth sciences. This year’s recipient of the Ian Campbell Medal, Dr. James “Jim” Davis, is one of the key scientists behind U.S. earthquake hazards and loss reduction policy as it is known today.

American Geosciences Institute

natural hazards