Right now
Follow evacuation orders. Protect your lungs.
If you are in an exclusion zone, leave immediately. Volcanic ash is not like wood ash; it is made of rock and glass and can damage lungs, eyes, and engines.
Where you are right now
Your situation determines what you do
If evacuation is ordered
Leave immediately along designated routes. Do not delay. Lahars (volcanic mudflows) can move faster than you can drive and follow river valleys. Get to high ground away from valleys and low-lying areas near the volcano.
If ashfall is occurring
Get indoors. Close all windows, doors, and vents. Turn off HVAC systems to prevent ash from entering. If you must be outside, wear an N95 mask or hold a damp cloth over your nose and mouth. Protect your eyes with goggles, not contact lenses.
If you are driving in ashfall
Drive slowly. Ash reduces visibility and makes roads slippery. Use headlights. Keep windows closed and set ventilation to recirculate. Heavy ashfall can stall engines. If visibility drops to near zero, pull over and wait.
If you have respiratory conditions
Volcanic ash is extremely hazardous for people with asthma, COPD, or other lung conditions. Stay indoors with all openings sealed. Use your rescue inhaler as needed. Seek medical help if breathing becomes difficult.
After the immediate danger
What to do next
Clear ash carefully
Volcanic ash is abrasive and heavy. Wet it down before sweeping to prevent it from becoming airborne. Wear a mask, goggles, and long sleeves. Heavy ash loads can collapse roofs. If accumulation is significant, remove it carefully from your roof when safe. Wet ash weighs about twice as much as dry ash, so rain can push a loaded roof past collapse. Clear thick ash before it rains if you can do so safely, but do not add water to ash still on the roof, which only increases the load. Roofs and ladders under ash are dangerously slippery, and if the ash is very deep, stay out from under the loaded roof and leave clearing to professionals.
Protect your water supply
Cover water collection systems, rain barrels, and open containers. Ash can contaminate water supplies. Use stored or bottled water until authorities confirm tap water is safe.
Monitor air quality
Volcanic gases and fine ash particles can affect air quality for days or weeks after an eruption. Follow local air quality advisories before spending time outdoors.
Sources: Ready.gov Volcanoes, USGS Volcano Hazards Program, CDC Volcanic Ash Safety, FEMA Volcanic Eruption Preparedness. All safety claims verified against primary sources. Last reviewed August 30, 2026.
This guide is not professional emergency management advice. It is a plain-language starting point for someone in an active hazard right now.