Eruption - 15. Erupt Ch 15

“What are you smiling about?” Emmanuel asked as I put my phone away, “Oh, nothing much, just tidying up some trash, which has been sorted and thrown away,” I said cryptically. Emmanuel frowned and then shrugged his shoulders before heading off to get some snacks and another book to ready for the next stage of the flight.

When we arrived home, it looked quiet and peaceful, and there was no sign of any rubbish anywhere, so the team must have been very busy cleaning up the mess, with Aunty Jos informing us that they had spent the past two days cleaning up the research facility and accommodation, since the eviction of the Canadian Research team. “Oh, by the way, when we were in Vancouver International, I picked up today’s newspaper, which has a very interesting front-page article,” Emmanuel said as we pulled up outside our cabin.

“Let me get cleaned up and rested, then I will get around to reading the article. Ok bud?” I responded, and we climbed out of the vehicle and grabbed our luggage. “Thanks for picking us both up Aunty Jos, and for doing everything that you could while I was away, it is very much appreciated,” I said to my Aunt before heading into the cabin.

An hour later, after a hot shower and a bite to eat, I was sitting out on the balcony looking out to the lake, when Emmanuel handed me the newspaper. “Canadian Research Team in Hot water” was the headline, and I immediately knew what this was about, and I groaned, as Emmanuel sat down in the chair next to me. “It is a good story, telling the true story, and includes photos of the rubbish and mess that they had made,” Emmanuel said to me, as I began to read the article.

“While researching and monitoring all of the recent volcanic activity in BC the past few weeks, the Canadian Geo Science Division - CGSD research team, did their very best to make themselves at home in a private research facility just west of Williams Lake, BC.

While the Managing Director of the private facility was away, over east attending to business, the CGSD research team made themselves at home and didn’t bother to keep the place in good order. It is understood that the research team were given permission for limited access to the facilities, and they took full advantage of the absence of the Managing Director, who is believed to be a Masters Graduate at New Brunswick University in Fredericton.

On learning of what was happening at his own private facility, the Managing Director made a few telephone calls, which resulted in the arrival of the RCMP force, with an order for the research team to leave and never to return, and they were evicted from the facilities immediately, and the Managing Director is now in transit back home”.

“Hmm, good article, let’s just wait and see if the rest of the media around the country pick up on the story and see how bad the storm gets for them,” I commented, just as there was a loud rumble before the ground began to shake badly, and we jumped out of chairs and rushed to the open area to see what was happening.

After the first earthquake, Emmanuel and I headed to our research facility, where Aunty Jos was waiting, and she held up the keys. “I thought you may need to use these to get in,” she said to me before handing over two new sets of keys, and I gave Emmanuel one set, which he used to open up.

“I am not sure where everything is supposed to go, so once the clean up was done, I decided to leave everything that I had put away in the executive conference room where it is, so you can put it all in its proper place,” Aunty Jos said to me, “thanks for doing that Aunty, I would have hated to have lost all of the data that we have collected so far,” I replied, as we walked inside, and I headed down the hall and up the stairs, while Emmanuel and Aunty Jos remained downstairs.

Ignoring all of the equipment and computers stacked up on the conference table, I went directly into my office and booted up my own computer, and waited for it to reveal what was currently happening with the latest quakes. A knock on the door made me look up to see Aunty Jos holding a cup of tea for me, which she placed on my deck.

“Thanks, I may need that to keep me going,” I said smiling, “My pleasure dear. Emmanuel is still downstairs grumbling, as he is currently checking all of the equipment that I didn’t get to put away, I expect he will appear shortly,” Aunty Jos said

“I’m here now. Boss we have some stuff that has been knocked around a fair bit, including food and drink that has been spilt onto and into some of the machines, and I have started to make a list of them so you can invoice the CGSD for damages,” Emmanuel said to me.

“Ok mate, make that the first priority, as we will need to get replacements as soon as possible if this activity starts to increase, which I expect that it will,” I replied, as I started to look at all the data that the sensors were sending in so far.

Over the next two days, we had several aftershocks, coming from all directions, which had me very worried, and I had been speaking to Dr Judith several times each day, as she and her team prepared to fly back to BC, which had been delayed by two days. I informed her that I would be purchasing a small bus to be able to transport her and the team around the area and that I would collect them from the airport at Williams Lake when they arrived.

I had already arranged with my parents to purchase an 8-seater Ford Transit wagon, to use for transporting researchers around the place, as well as to and from the airport, and it had been trucked up from Vancouver and would be arriving the day before Dr Judith and her team of ten arrive. This meant that as well as the transit can, we would need to take my newest vehicle, which is a GWM Twin Cab Ute, to transport everyone back to the complex, and we would be collecting them from the airport at Williams Lake.

On the day of their arrival, Emmanuel and I had travelled to Williams Lake in the late afternoon the day before, so we would not be too tired for the return journey, and it gave us a chance to do a bit of additional shopping for supplies that we would need for the research guests.

The day before they flew out of Fredericton, I sent Dr Judith a detailed agreement, that needed to be signed, before they could arrive at the complex, which was a legal agreement on what was expected of the guest researchers while staying at and working in the research complex. I didn’t want a repeat of what had happened while I was away over east, and this new legal agreement would cover our family for any damages or bad behaviour while they were at the research complex.

We were only half an hour away from reaching home when the notifications went off on my phone, and with Dr Judith in the SUV with me, she picked up my phone and clicked on the app, just as the notifications went off another three more times. “Holy shite, we need to get to the complex as quickly as possible,” Judith said to me, and I reached for the two-way radio.

“You copy me Emm? We need to step on it, we have had another three more notifications, over,” I said into the radio mic, “Copy that boss, the others in here have just told me that too, I am right behind you, over,” Emmanuel responded and I planted my foot on the floor of my vehicle, and I pointed to the glove box in front of Judith. “Orange Flashing lights, can you open the window and put it on the roof and plug it into the socket please,” I said to Judith, who did as I asked.

We were soon speeding along the highway at 120 km per hour, where was the speed limit on the good sections of the highway, I was glad that we had fine weather and on the sealed part of the highway, and we managed to reach the turnoff to the property in just twenty minutes.

Stopping directly outside the research centre, Judith and I headed straight inside, as the building was unlocked, and Aunty Jos was sitting in the reception office talking on the telephone, and I waved hello as we dashed past her and moments later, we were in the first research lab, which I had managed to get back into working order, before going to Williams Lake.

Grabbing a separate workstation each, we logged into the computer and began looking at the data, just as we felt another tremor, which stopped for a moment then started again, stopped again then restarted for a third time. I stopped work and looked over at Judith. “I did not like the feel of that, we better go out and take a look,” I commented, and she nodded in agreement and we headed outside, where the rest of the team as well as Emmanuel and Aunty Jos were looking to the west.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, apart from a huge ash cloud, I was seeing molten lava spewing out of not one but two volcanoes, and I was not sure which ones they were. “That is Mt Downton and Itcha Mountain,” Dr Judith stated, as we headed back inside, and the reception telephone began to ring, so I reached over the desk to take the call.

“Hello, Geophysics and Volcanology Research Complex, Carson Newton speaking,” I said into the phone, realising that it was quite a mouthful to say, “Hello young Carlton, I have just been informed that you have had some more activity out your way,” came a familiar voice.

“Yes, Mr Prime Minister, actually we have just witnessed two volcanoes, northeast of Anaheim that are actually spewing out lava as well as ash, it is quite dangerous. Sir, I have Dr Judith Atkins here with me, and I would like to recommend a 40-kilometre exclusion zone away from Mt Downton, which is 42 kilometres northeast of Anaheim, and 46 kilometres from our research complex at Nimpo Lake,” I said into the phone and I saw Judith nod in agreement, as I put the phone call on loudspeaker, so she could be included.

“Prime Minister, this is Dr Judith Atkin speaking, as a result of the recent behaviour of the research team from GeoScience Division, I request that Mr Newton and myself have full and senior control of managing this situation over here,” Judith said to the PM.

“I am in agreement with you on that, and I will make the necessary arrangements and notify all of the correct people in regards to that. Now what else can I do?” the PM asked. I looked briefly at Dr Judith who smiled and nodded for me to go ahead.

“Sir, like before I recommend that you do a national broadcast, and put in effect an evacuation order for anyone within that 40-kilometre zone, and have the RCMP close down all roads and highways leading into the area, which is mainly just Highway 20. I suggest a roadblock at Rainbow Range Turnoff for all traffic heading East on Highway 20 and a roadblock at the locality of Towdystan, a community located ten kilometres south of Nimpo Lake community to stop traffic heading north and west towards the exclusion zone,” I said.

“Sir, all air traffic should be diverted away from the area, with no aircraft activity within a 90-kilometre radius of Mt Downton, the volcanic dust is already very high and widespread, so we need to keep all aircraft away, I also recommend that all communities and towns west of us on the Bella Coola Highway, be evacuated by ferry, via the North Bentenick Arm, down to Port Hardy,” Judith added. “Very good, I will get onto it, keep up the good work, and keep my office updated as best as possible,” the PM said before ending the call.

“Wow, we have full control of all of this, that is incredible,” I commented, “Yes, so we had better get all of the team settled in, and get them to work, as we have a lot of data to gather and assess,” Judith responded. With no guests currently staying on the property, and with me and Emmanuel buying additional food supplies in Williams Lake, we were set for a long stay if need be.

Mum and Dad, along with Kip had just arrived back from a few days at Bella Coola, and when they saw the team in full action with work, and seeing two volcanoes active, they came to me to ask for advice. “Honestly, I would like to have you evacuated out of here, but that may not be what you want is it? Mum said to me.

“What I do suggest is that you have all staff given paid leave, and get them to pack up and leave the area, either to Bella Coola and onto Port Hardy, or over to Williams Lake, until the crisis is over,” I said to my parents. “Yes, we will do that, and yes, I want the whole family to stay together, no matter what happens. I understand that you have your work, and I think it is best that you stay here to do it, so we too will be staying,” Dad announced.

“We did a lot more shopping while in Bella Coola, so we have enough food and supplies for us and your research team to last us for about a month,” Mum added, I smiled and stepped forward and gave her a big hug. “Thanks, Mum, I really appreciate all of your support with my work,” I said to my Mum.

“Kip, how about a job while we have no guests and you have no school to attend?” I asked, “Will I get paid?” my brother responded, and I smiled, “Yes son, I will make sure you get paid, but you have to listen to your brother and do everything he says, as your life may depend on it,” Dad said to my younger brother.

“Ok, that is fine with me,” Kip said in reply, “Good, you will be working with Emmanuel in the Administration and Hospitality department, so I would like you to assist him in any way,” I said to my brother, who nodded his head in understanding.

Over the next hour, Judith and I were having a meeting with all of the research team, and Emmanuel had recruited not only Kip but also Aunty Jos, to assist with running the administration area, while Mum and Dad concentrated on organising getting all of the staff packed and sent off out of the danger zone.

Once that was done, they made sure that both front gates were closed and locked, and a temporary sign was made up, “Closed Due to Volcanic Emergency,” and a contact number was added to the bottom of the sign. Unfortunately, Gillian was stuck in Williams Lake with work, and with the current emergency, she would be remaining here, as she would not be able to get home at all, due to all the roads being closed.

Less than three days after the first two eruptions, another two more happened, this time at Migma and Monarch Mountains, both of which are 61 and 69 kilometres southwest of our base, southwest of our base, so a little further away, but still very close.

I telephoned the RCMP and had the roadblock and evacuation orders extended east to the Tatla Lake Community, on Highway 20, just as a special precaution, especially with there now being four volcanoes letting out molten lava, and with it being uncertain how long the eruption will last for.

Already we had received over sixty aftershocks from the volcanoes, and we expected to have a lot more coming, but for how long we had no idea, all we could do was monitor, record all the data, and send out warnings when needed. It was a very long five weeks before we could give the all clear that it was safe for people to return to their homes, and thankfully none of the towns or communities were badly affected apart from the huge amount of ash that had fallen, which the communities and federal government had spent nearly a week cleaning up as much as possible to clear all of the major roads.

Ash had also covered most of our property, and with the two maintenance staff remaining behind, while the rest evacuated, they were able to keep removing all the ash off the rooftops of all the buildings and to keep the main driveway and all access paths around the property clear. When the roads were officially reopened, Gillian was one of the first people to drive west to get back home to Nimpo Lake, to be back with her partner.

Four months later, the Volcanic eruption was still fresh on everyone’s mind, as we settled down to continue to monitor all of the volcanoes on the west coast. For the GVRC, we were given a three-year Federally funded contract to continue to monitor and collect all the volcanoes in the region, which meant that Dr Judith and her team were employed full-time to work with me at the GVRC, which the New Brunswick University was not happy about loosing one of its senior staff members.

For the Canadian Geo Science Division, there was a huge reshuffle of staff there, with several senior staff being forced to either resign, be sacked or retire early, as well as some being severely reprimanded, for their involvement in what had happened at the GVRC while I was away east.

Visitors and guests slowly began to return to the area, especially now that there is the extra attraction of viewing real-life lava rock as a result of the lava flowing out of the four mountains. Although we had received countless number of requests for interviews with many media outlets, we only did one, and that was for a science magazine. As a result of it, we suddenly became the most reputable and highly in-demand information centre regarding volcanoes and geoscience.

With our team of twelve scientists and two administration staff, with Kit now working full time alongside Emmanuel, Judith and I had organised the group into three teams. Team One - Data Collection and Analysis, Team Two – Sensor installation and maintenance, and Team Three – Education. We had agreed that each team would spend four months doing one thing, before rotating jobs with the other teams, so that each team had a chance to work in a different area, over twelve months.

We had to beef up the security around the Complex and the complex accommodation area, to stop any guests staying at the resort or any snooping reporters, from getting anywhere near the complex, with a three-metre-high garrison fence built around the area, to keep them out.

Although we had installed additional security cameras around the complex, which Emmanuel and Kit monitored, we relied on more advanced technology to keep access restricted, with a hand print scan and a six-digit code required to enter the perimeter fence and a two-thumb and six-digit code to enter the main research building.

I would never have thought that a huge natural event like four volcanoes erupting would boost my career so quickly, but we now have the whole family together at one location and everyone was happy. Well most of us were, I was still lonely, even though Emmanuel was an awesome best mate, that was as far as our friendship would go, and with the type of work I am in, I could not see myself with a partner of my own for some time in the future, but I was happy with my work and with the team that I work with, and been with my family. That is all that I really needed.