Mount Spurr: UAA preparedness

According to a report by the Alaska Volcano Observatory on March 12, Spurr’s eruption is expected in the coming weeks or months. As earthquake activity, degassing and surface deformation occur more frequently, scientists will have a clearer idea of the event timeline and intend to brief the public with updated timelines as new information arises. 

UAA’s Incident Management Team, known as IMT, sent an email on March 14, sharing a resource for workplace and home preparedness. IMT intends to share updates as they receive them. 

The Northern Light spoke with IMT through email about UAA's preparedness regarding Mount Spurr. 

IMT wrote that campus evacuation is decided by the chancellor or someone within the Emergency Operations Center and local emergency management.

IMT also wrote that partial or full evacuation on campus is dependent on the nature of the event. 

Building evacuation procedures for both on-campus housing and campus buildings require students, staff and faculty to evacuate to each building’s appointed evacuation area. 

To ensure people with disabilities receive proper services, IMT states, “UAA encourages individuals with disabilities to self-identify (voluntarily) with the appropriate campus office (e.g., Disability Support Services) to ensure they are included in emergency planning.”

IMT states, “Departments and building managers are responsible for identifying evacuation routes and refuge areas that accommodate individuals with mobility, visual, hearing, or cognitive impairments.”

In an emergency, elevators should be avoided unless use is directed by emergency personnel. Each building provides refuge areas for individuals who cannot evacuate independently and can wait for first responder assistance.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to aid individuals who may need assistance and to report their location to emergency personnel.

Paratransit, university shuttles and emergency services will be arranged to transport individuals to safe locations. IMT wrote that specialized transport is prioritized for those who require it and includes coordination with local emergency management and disability services. 

“Evacuation procedures for UAA community campuses vary. Evacuation plans for community campuses can be found in the respective campuses' emergency action plans,” according to IMT.

UAA’s Emergency Management is in close contact with Alaska’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, as well as the Alaska Volcano Observatory, USGS and the National Weather Service, to provide information to assist the UAA community in preparing for Mount Spurr activity.

UAA Emergency Management conducts yearly exercises relevant to current events, recently focusing on active aggressor events, hazardous material spills and earthquakes. Volcanic emergencies have not been exercised recently. However, the department’s plans are reviewed and updated every three to four years, keeping them consistent with updates to the University of Alaska Anchorage Emergency Operations Plan. 

IMT is currently identifying parameters that could lead to the decision to close the campus in the event of an eruption impacting Anchorage. 

IMT is also working with Residence Life to ensure they have the necessary information and supplies to prepare for and respond to an ash emergency for those living in dormitories and on-campus housing.

To mitigate air quality complications caused by volcanic ash, especially regarding engines and electronics, IMT responded:

“Facilities Maintenance personnel will close as many outside air dampers as possible and recirculate interior air in campus buildings to prevent ash from moving through ventilation systems. Building filtration will be closely monitored and replaced as needed. Additionally Facilities will work to cover and secure fleet vehicles in parking garages and other items that will support the facilities response to the ash-fall event. IMT is working to assess campus needs in accordance with our emergency operations plan and will seek to provide appropriate protective covering upon further evaluation.”

IMT is working with Residence Life and the Student Health and Counseling Center to identify ways to provide students with personal protective equipment.

If personal vehicles are unavailable for evacuation, UAA will coordinate with local transit agencies, municipal resources and university transportation services to transport students to off-campus shelters and safe zones. 

Students may be transported to designated shelters, such as other UAA facilities, community shelters or partner institutions, if evacuation is required but sheltering in place is unsafe. 

If needed, coordination with the Municipality of Anchorage Emergency Management will ensure access to Red Cross shelters or emergency housing. 

To ensure all UAA students and staff receive emergency information  in an accessible and effective manner, UA Alerts will include audio, text and visual components to reach individuals with various needs. Updates and instructions will be updated in real time. 

Residential students who live in apartments with kitchens and those in off-campus housing who do not rely on meal plans should proactively provide supplies for themselves and their households. 

Additionally, students without meal plans should follow UAA’s Mount Spurr preparedness recommendations and contact the Care Team, Dean of Students or the Seawolf Food Pantry to explore support for food insecurity.

Seawolf Dining will continue meal service to the greatest extent possible for residential students who live in a residence hall or utilize UAA’s meal plan. 

Seawolf Dining’s connections to various business partnerships across Anchorage allow them to provide off-site meal preparation when UAA’s commercial kitchens become unavailable. Fresh meals, shelf-stable meals, beverages and snacks will be delivered on campus daily and made available to residential students with meal plans. 

Residents can take action before the eruption by purchasing home and car air filters, goggles, N95 masks and by stocking up on nonperishable food and water. 

Other considerations for provisions include enough food and water for pets, prescription medicines, contact lenses and saline solution. 

UAA staff, faculty, or students can contact IMT’s email with any questions they might have about UAA preparedness and Mount. Spurr: uaa-imt@alaska.edu.

UAA students should refer to the university’s preparedness site. 

Alaska residents can refer to the State of Alaska’s 7-day emergency kit, JBER’s natural disaster page, Ready.gov’s basic emergency kit, UAA’s Mt. Spurr updates website, Alaska Volcano Observatory, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management main page and Ready.gov volcano preparedness, USGS Volcano notification updates, impact and mitigation, hazards and preparedness for additional resources.