Educational Video Programs

General programs

• Understanding Volcanic Hazards
• Reducing Volcanic Risk
• Volcanic ash avoidance -- flight crew briefing

Volcano-specific programs

• Mount Rainier, Washington: Perilous Beauty - The Hidden Dangers of Mount Rainier
• Mount Hood, Oregon: At Risk: Volcano Hazards from Mount Hood, Oregon

Reducing Volcanic Risk

This videotape showcases how people can lower their risk from volcanic activity. Three steps can prevent volcanic eruptions from becoming volcanic disasters:

• Identify Hazard Areas
• Monitor Volcanoes
• Develop Emergency Plan

Video of volcanoes from around the world shows how these three steps saved lives when they were used. Reducing Volcanic Risk also describes the critical elements of emergency plans that made the difference between life and death for tens of thousands of people living in the shadows of active volcanoes. People must be informed of the hazards they face. Scientists and public officials must announce warnings clearly. And emergency plans must be tested and practiced ahead of time and used without hesitation when a volcano threatens to erupt.

This 24-minute educational program and its companion, Understanding Volcanic Hazards, are intended to help prevent future deaths from volcanic eruptions.

The video was produced for the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) and United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The video is available from:

Northwest Interpretive Association 3029 Spirit Lake Highway Castle Rock, WA 98611 tel (360) 274-2127; fax (360) 274-2101

English or Spanish language (NTSC or PAL formats)
Cost: US $19.95
Postage in the US, Canada, Mexico: US $5.00
Postage all other destinations: US $13.05 airmail, US $5.55 surface postage

Understanding Volcanic Hazards

This videotape features images of erupting volcanoes and graphically shows how volcanic activity can affect people, their property, and the land on which they live. The program focuses on seven types of volcanic hazards: ash falls, hot-ash flows (pyroclastic flows), lahars, landslides, tsunamis, lava flows, and volcanic gases.

Understanding Volcanic Hazards is dedicated to the more than 23,000 Colombians who were killed by lahars on November 13, 1985, when Nevado del Ruiz Volcano erupted. This 24-minute educational program and its companion, Reducing Volcanic Risk, are intended to help prevent future deaths from volcanic eruptions.

The video was produced for the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) and United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The video is available from:

Northwest Interpretive Association 3029 Spirit Lake Highway Castle Rock, WA 98611 tel (360) 274-2127; fax (360) 274-2101

English or Spanish language (NTSC or PAL formats)
Cost: US $19.95
Postage in the US, Canada, Mexico: US $5.00
Postage all other destinations: US $13.05 airmail, US $5.55 surface postage

Perilous Beauty -- The Hidden Dangers of Mount Rainier

This program was produced by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Volcanic activity, enormous landslides, and glacial erosion have continuously re-shaped Mount Rainier's magnificent cone. These natural processes have also sent large and dangerous lahars (volcanic mudflows) rushing down all river valleys leading away from the volcano. Understanding the nature of these past events is key to reducing our risk from Mount Rainier's future activity. This 29-minute video uses computer animation, eruption footage, interviews with scientists, and vivid aerial and ground shots of the mountain to show how mudflows from Mount Rainier can affect communities in Western Washington.

The video is available from:

Northwest Interpretive Association 3029 Spirit Lake Highway Castle Rock, WA 98611 tel (360) 274-2127; fax (360) 274-2101

English (NTSC format)
Cost: US $19.95
Postage in the US, Canada, Mexico: US $5.00
Postage all other destinations: US $13.05 airmail, US $5.55 surface postage

At Risk: Volcano Hazards from Mount Hood, Oregon

This program was produced by the U.S. Geological Survey.

This video program describes and illustrates the types of volcano hazards posed by Mount Hood, Oregon, and shows areas near the volcano that could be affected by future activity. The video was produced to provide nearby residents, businesses, and public agencies basic information about future potential volcano hazards from the volcano. Located about 80 km east of Portland, Oregon, Mount Hood's recent activity has included debris avalanches (landslides), lahars, pyroclastic flows, and eruption of viscous lava. The video includes dramatic images of eruptions from volcanoes in the Caribbean, Japan, and Hawai`i.

The video is available from:

English (NTSC formats)
Cost: US $12.95
Postage in the US, Canada, Mexico: US $5.00
Postage all other destinations: US $13.05 airmail, US $5.55 surface postage