Emergency management in volcano hazards: the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the management of, and citizen response to, the emergency evacuation strategy used in the communities of Toutle and Silverlake, Washington. These towns are approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Mt St Helens volcano, and lie near the danger zone (during May 1980) established by Washington State authorities, in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Forest Service. Data for this study were generated from a probability sample of size 102 drawn from a sample frame constructed from combined telephone and postal route record. Of the 102 dwelling units selected, personal interviews were completed with 90 families. The data show that individual's decisions to comply with emergency procedures were made largely on the basis of perceived personal risk, and belief in the validity of the warning message. Citizens reported a positive evaluation of the warning system implemented by county sheriff's authorities. The paper also describes issues related to the logistics of relocating and sheltering citizens