Get out, now, or we will force you out! That's pretty much the difficult order the Philippine military is charged with delivering to farmers and other residents near the loudly growling Mayon volcano. It's a tough call. Already lots people are sneaking back to their farms, according to news reports. And why not? For many of these people there livestock and crops are their financial security. They can't evacuate their crops or livestock, so they sneak back to care for them, crossing their fingers that the volcano will spare them, their land and animals.
Despite the very real dangers of a major eruption, I find myself feeling the farmers' lot. They are in a very tough spot. Seems like there are two likely outcomes and neither is good for the farmers: 1) Their is an eruption that kills their crops and livestock. 2) There is no eruption but the livestock die and crops are spoiled anyway because there's no one to care for them.
There is nothing the farmers can do about outcome #1. But by sneaking back to care for their farms, they are trying to hedge against outcome #2. Of course, the act of sneaking back creates a third and even less savory outcome: Big eruption, crops, animals and farmers killed.
Seems like the only way to avoid #3 is for the Philippine government to make it clear they will help farmers recover after the danger of the eruption has passed. Otherwise, I'm afraid my sympathies are with the hedging farmers. I'm pretty sure that if I was in their shoes, I'd be doing same.
Image: www.volcano.si.edu
Tags: Everyday Science, Floods, Natural Disasters, Volcanic Eruptions
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