Washington, D.C.-  Today, Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA-03) announced $2.4 million in federal funding is coming to the Cascades Volcano Observatory to improve public safety throughout the Pacific Northwest.   The funding will be used to upgrade volcano monitoring systems at the center.  This will allow scientists to detect potential eruptions more quickly, and give the public more advance warning of a volcanic event.   The money comes from the U.S. Geological Survey as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

"We have seen firsthand the death and destruction that a volcanic eruption can cause.  Fifty-seven people were killed when Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, and the volcano still rumbles to life on occasion," said Congressman Baird.  "This money will allow scientists to better study all the volcanoes in the Cascades, and consequently be better prepared to alert the public in the event of a pending disaster."

The USGS volcano observatories warn of impending eruptions, track ongoing eruptions in real time, and assist communities and the flying public in minimizing their vulnerability to volcano hazards. Monitoring volcanoes is a diverse activity that requires networks of geophysical instruments on volcanoes transmitting data to observatories, coupled with the capabilities to detect ash, volcanic gas, and hot spots with satellite imagery; to measure gas and acquire thermal imagery from aircraft; and to understand past behavior of the volcanoes and what human activities and infrastructure are at risk.

Volcano monitoring is only effective if linked to rapid means for communication of hazard information to communities, businesses, government agencies, and the public.  ARRA funds will be used to modernize instrumentation and information systems to state-of-the-art, providing the necessary tools to communicate hazard information quickly to those who need it.

Work to be conducted with ARRA funds is divided into six projects, coinciding with the six high-risk volcanic areas in the United States.  In addition to the funding for the Cascades Volcano Observatory, there is also $7.56 million for the Alaska Volcano Observatory, $3.3 million for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, $950,000 for Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, $800,000 for upgrading networks in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and $200,000 for the Long Valley Observatory in California.

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