Volcano Disaster Assistance Program - Definition

Volcano Disaster Assistance Program was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance after the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz in 1985 that killed 23,000 people. The programs purpose is to respond to selected volcanic crises around the world to assist in saving lives and property and to reduce economic losses.

When Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and U.S. Geological Survey had monitored the volcano. With the help of the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program's crisis-response team, about 75,000 people and $250 million to $375 million worth of equipment were evacuted before major eruption happened.