Blaming Active Volcanoes or Active Volcanic Blame? Volcanic Crisis Communication and Blame Management in the Cameroon

This chapter examines the key role of blame management and avoidance in crisis communication with particular reference to developing countries and areas that frequently experience volcanic episodes and disasters. In these contexts, the chapter explores a key paradox prevalent within crisis communication and blame management concepts that has been rarely tested in empirical terms (see De Vries 2004; Brändström 2016a). In particular, the chapter examines, what it calls, the ‘paradox of frequency’ where frequency of disasters leads to twin dispositions for crisis framed as either: (i) policy failure (active about volcanic blame on others), where issues of blame for internal incompetency takes centre stage, and blame management becomes a focus of disaster managers, and/or: (ii) as event failure (in this case, the blaming of lack of external capacity on active volcanoes and thereby the blame avoidance of disaster managers). Put simply, the authors investigate whether perceptions of frequency itself is a major determinant shaping the existence, operation, and even perceived success of crisis communication in developing regions, and countries experiencing regular disaster episodes. The authors argue frequency is important in shaping the behaviour of disaster managers and rather ironically as part of crisis communication can shape expectations of community resilience and (non)-compliance. In order to explore the implications of the ‘paradox of frequency’ further, the chapter examines the case of the Cameroon, where volcanic activity and events have been regular, paying particular attention to the major disasters in 1986 (Lake Nyos Disaster - LND) and 1999 (Mount Cameroon volcanic eruption - MCE)

Forensic assessment of the 1999 Mount Cameroon eruption, West-Central Africa

The 28March to 22 April 1999 eruption ofMount Cameroon volcano in southwest Cameroon occurred frommultiple vents along fissures at two sites. Vents opened first at the upper site 1 (2650 m) and were more explosive than vents at the lower site 2 (1500m), which were more effusive. Earthquakes, lava flows, tephra fall, ballistics and gas emissions affected the volcano's west and south flanks, including forests, plantations, stock animals, water supplies, coastal communities and their people. Through an analysis of existing published data and new interview data, we provide an overview of the environmental, social and economic consequences of these hazards on infrastructure, human health, and socio-economic and agricultural activities of the four coastal communitiesmost affected by the eruption: Batoke, Bakingili,Debundscha and Idenau. The collected data provide amore detailed description of the short- and long-term direct and indirect effects of the eruption and response than has been provided to date. Sedimentation of tephra and ballistics from site 1 produced both short-term and longlasting impacts on people, through the contamination of plants and water supplies, which induced impacts on human health and commercial activities. A ~9.2 km long lava flow erupted from site 2 received significant short-termattention as it severed the only arterial coastal highway, forced the evacuation of some 600 residents of Bakingili, and interrupted commerce between communities. The agricultural sector also suffered due to burning of crops and soils. The only obvious significant benefit of the eruption appears to be that the long lava flowhas become a tourist attraction, responsible for bringing in money for food, drink and lodging. However, the longterm cascading effects caused by the hazards have proven to be more severe than the immediate direct and indirect effects during the eruption

Investigating the Management of Geological Hazards and Risks in the Mt Cameroon Area Using Focus Group Discussions

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