Table 3 Itinerary for US travelers to Colombia, August 2013
Date | Visits | Content |
|---|---|---|
Sunday August 25 | Arrival in Bogota. | |
Monday August 26 | Visit to Bogota UNGRD and SGC; Afternoon travel to Manizales | US participants met with National, ‘Departmental’ (state), ‘municipial’ (county) and ‘alcaldia’ (city) disaster civil protection agencies with visits to SGC in Bogota. Officials described mechanisms for information sharing, and evacuation planning and exercising. They demonstrated the interoperability of protocols and systems. Participants observed interactions between scientists and civil protection agencies. They viewed a volcano-monitoring system, and learned about the history and hazards of Nevado del Ruiz, and the Colombian alert-level system. |
Tuesday August 27 | Visit agencies in Manizales region, and visit Chinchiná area, regional institutions, and OVSM in Manizales. | Visit to Risk Management of Caldas (UDEGER) Civil Defense of Caldas that included a press conference. In towns of Chinchiná and Viejo Rio Claro that were damaged or destroyed by the 1985 Ruiz lahars, participants listened as survivors described disastrous lahar events and poignant personal losses. Visited Cruz Roja Colombiana – Seccional Caldas (Red Cross regional center); visited fire stations in Manizales and Villamaría. During observatory visit, learned about roles and capabilities of a volcano observatory at the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Manizales (OVSM). |
Wednesday August 28 | Travel to Nevado del Ruiz | Participants traveled to 5000 m elevation on Nevado del Ruiz to site of eruption-destroyed El Refugio visitor facility; viewed high-elevation monitoring sites, and source areas of 1985 lahars. |
Thursday August 29 | Travel to Armero New Armero/Guayabal and ruins of Armero | Participants listened to eyewitness accounts from officials and residents of New Armero/Guayabal about 1985 lahar impacts; toured ruins of Armero. Visited fire station in New Armero/Guayabal. |
Friday August 30 | Ibagué | Participants toured Environment and Risk Management of Tolima, including radio communications room. They visited officials present during 1985 lahar disaster. |
Saturday August 31 | Departure to US |