Probability of Dying from a Volcanic Eruption in the US
1 in 500,000
Lifetime probability in US
The estimated lifetime odds of dying from a volcanic eruption in the US are approximately 1 in 500,000, concentrated in Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest.
Volcanic eruptions pose a very low but non-zero risk to Americans, with estimated lifetime odds of death at approximately 1 in 500,000. The US has about 161 active volcanoes, with the highest concentration in Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest (Cascades Range). The most dangerous US volcanoes include Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Kilauea, and the Yellowstone caldera.
The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens killed 57 people and remains the deadliest US eruption in modern history. Volcanic hazards include pyroclastic flows, lahars (volcanic mudflows), ashfall, lava flows, volcanic gases, and tsunamis triggered by eruptions. Mount Rainier's lahar risk threatens over 100,000 people living in downstream valleys.
The USGS Volcano Hazards Program monitors all US volcanoes and provides early warnings. Preparation includes knowing if you live in a volcanic hazard zone, having an evacuation plan, keeping N95 masks and goggles available for ashfall, and signing up for USGS volcanic activity alerts. The chances of a catastrophic Yellowstone super-eruption in any given year are approximately 1 in 730,000.
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