Thread by @FreedomFriesInc

(1) As a hurricane watcher (amateur, from behind a screen) I take an interest in other disaster types like earthquake, tsunami, & volcano.

International media coverage of the #Fagradalsfjall eruption in Iceland misses the mark a bit. Here's why.

https://twitter.com/Vedurstofan/status/1373236776010194947

(2) I see this phenomenon all the time, whenever New Zealand has an earthquake, tsunami or volcanic eruption.

Few in the media are trained in the responsible reporting of such disasters. They aim for clicks & ratings with little regard for public safety (anywhere.)

(3) Emergency Management Agencies (EMAs) usually issue media guidance & I've read such materials produced by the USA's FEMA.gov (the largest EMA in the world.) Unfortunately FEMA's website redesign makes it hard to find them now, but I'll add links below later on.

(4) Every time a natural disaster makes the news internationally we can improve readiness or make things worse.

We need to strike a balance between overdoing and underdoing the hazard warnings.

IMO the #Reykjanes peninsula volcano reporting* errs on the side of the latter.

(5) *The international reporting in the English language, I mean. While the official Icelandic advice to locals is probably spot-on, the photos of people posing in front of the lava field go worldwide.

Not all of us have minor volcanic eruptions like this one in Iceland.

(6) Some of you will reply to inform me that people are smart enough to know their own local hazards need local guidance & if not, that's on them.

There are ALWAYS people who do the wrong thing. We can try to reduce harm or we can ignore the problem. IMO the latter is selfish.

(7) Photo: Iceland today.

Less than 2 years ago 22 cruise ship guests who visited NZ's #WhiteIsland #Whakaari volcano died an extremely painful death, 22 others were horrifically injured & 3 had minor injuries.

Even in NZ, the lessons from this event have not been learned.

(8) Volcanic eruptions near inhabited areas are relatively rare, worldwide. It's a disaster type so terrifying that many people don't want to think about the risk near them, or how to prepare.

As an earthquake survivor I can tell you that a big quake is terrifying, too.

(9) Being so rare also makes volcanic eruptions a fascinating novelty for most people around the world. Locals often want to get as close as possible, while officials plead with them to stay away.

Hawaii is a great example. So was Mt St Helens in 1980.

https://twitter.com/FreedomFriesInc/status/1367944978635268097

(10) This thread by @gislio includes sound safety advice for this volcanic eruption:

https://twitter.com/gislio/status/1373349874079518725

(11) If I was running the local EMA I'd include warnings in almost every statement made to the public. And I would prohibit access to anywhere near this eruption (a) to be on the safe side and (b) to avoid unsafe messages being sent around the world regarding OTHER volcanoes.

(12) There are international bodies that deliberate over such agreed guidelines, including the WMO (World Meteorological Association.)

Each country is of course free to have it's own government policies and laws regarding disaster readiness and response, as it should.

(13) Public debate about the subject is healthy and in many cases, essential.

The same principles apply across all disaster types, including pandemic, civil unrest, and war, for example.

Many of us are motivated by a desire to use our own experiences to reduce harm to others.

(14) You can watch the #Fagradalsfjall volcanic eruption via webcam, eg the link below.

Hopefully that satisfies the understandable desire to observe this event in all it's natural splendor, without risking your life or others'.

#Reykjanes #eruption

livefromiceland.is/webcams/geldin…

(15) The volcano is where the red marker is on this map, About 20 miles SW of Iceland's capital, #Reykjavik.

Officials have closed nearby roads but are only advising people not to venture near the volcano.

Around the world, people have learned that isn't enough.

(16) And while it might be enough to prevent loss of life at this time and place, my point is that the wrong message is being sent to people who live in countries where the volcanic threat is far more dangerous and frequent. It's most likely being done unwittingly.

(17) The IBM-owned Weather Channel is a good source of info about natural disasters, weather-related or otherwise.

From the link below:

weather.com/news/news/2021…

(18) This media outlet appears to be hitting the right note, IMO. Well done icelandreview.com.

https://twitter.com/Iceland_Review/status/1373291372858458113