Date | Visits | Content |
---|---|---|
Sunday Sept 15 | Â | Arrival in Portland, Oregon |
Monday Sept 16 | Visits to USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory; Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument visitor facilities | Participants received an overview of US volcanoes and USGS Volcano Hazards Programming; Mount Rainier eruptive history and hazards; legacy of Mount St. Helens’ 1980 catastrophic eruption; discussion of volcano tourist destinations as potentially useful platforms for volcano hazards interpretation. |
Tuesday Sept 17 | Visits to Pierce County Department of Emergency Management (PCDEM), visit to Red Cross, and Orting Valley Fire and Rescue | Discussion about the Mount Rainier lahar detection system, and about functions of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Mobile operations Center (MOC), facilities for Joint Information Center (JIC), and FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (USR). At Red Cross, learning about organizational functions and discussion of similarities and differences with Cruz Roja in Colombia. After a tour of Orting Valley Fire and Rescue, Dra. Marta Calvache briefed town council and fire commissioners about the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz experience. This prompted many informal discussions between local officials and binational exchange participants. |
Thursday Sept 18 | Trip to Mount Rainier National Park | Discussion about the administration of a national park with volcano at center; the park and USGS partnership in support of improved monitoring; and staff and visitor safety concerning interpretation of Mount Rainier for visitors. |
Friday Sept 19 | Trip to White River lahar deposits from 5600 year lahar originating at Mount Rainier, and Mount Rainier National Park east side visitor facilities | Visited Osceola lahar deposits along the White River and identified them as analog to deposits at Nevado del Ruiz; Dra. Marta Calvache made public evening presentation about lahar hazards. |
Sept 20 | Visit Washington Emergency Management Division (EMD) at Camp Murray, WA | Toured Emergency Operations Center (EOC) with overview of response section; and of lahar warning system terminal at EMD. |
Sept 21 | Departure to Colombia | Â |