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MONTSERRAT VOLCANO 1st. REPORTS
Montserrat Volcano 1st Reports
July-August 1995
By W R White

Introduction
    On July 18th everything on Montserrat appeared normal. Little did the residents of this British Overseas
    Territory know that their  lives were about to be changed for good by activity in a mountain range, In 1492 it  
    inspired the name given to the island by Christopher Columbus.
    Late that evening I was in my office in Plymouth. I think it must have been around 8 o’clock. A
    phone call alerted me to rumblings that were louder in Kinsale where there was also a sprinkling
    of ash.  The following is a collection of my first reports for local, regional and international media.


July 21st 1995
'Lang' Volcano Rouses the Sleeping Soufriere Hills

    It was business as usual for most of the island this week, but from Plymouth east to Long Ground
    and south to St. Patrick’s every eye was fixed on the soufriere hills.The hills have been centre of attraction on
    the island since late Tuesday evening when residents were perplexed by a sound that turned out to be
    movement in the mountains. The reality was that a volcano which lay dormant was awakening.  Read full report

August 2nd 1995
New Vent Opens but Island Remains on Orange Alert

    It has been another week of lessons in volcanic activity here as Montserratians try desperately to come to grips
    with the situation brought on by the exploding ‘Langs’ volcano. The activity plunged the island into eruption
    mode two weeks ago. But just as the rumblings and emissions from the  Paradise mountain seemed to be
    quieting down last Friday, another vent opened in an adjoining mountain in Tar River east of the Lang
    soufriere..Read full report

August 11th 1995
Camp Lightfoot – Montserrat Tent City in Antigua

    The Government of Antigua and Barbuda is today presenting the British Government with a blueprint for a
    Montserrat tent city.  The plan is part of contingency arrangements for evacuating the island in the event of a
    calamitous volcanic eruption…Read full report
August 14th 1995
On Tour with Evacuees

    Some of them had not been to the North of the island in years, several of them are occasional visitors, but for
    all of  the residents from Long Ground, Whites, Tuitts, Farms and Trants the village of  Brades, Cavalla Hill,
    Davy Hill, Cudjoe Head, Judy Piece or St. John’s in the far north of the island is home. Their move to the area
    was brought on by  volcanic activity in the east of the island… Full Report    
August 14th 1995
Another Crisis in the East

    Farmers from Long Ground forced to relocate, complained this week that loose livestock have
    inflicted untold damage on their crops. ….Read full report
August 14th, 1995
A Week- end of Tremors.

    The governor described it as an eventful week - end, but across the island residents were terrified from late
    Saturday to last night by a series of earthquakes. Sunday Night scientists here to monitor volcanic activity
    reported at that in all there were over a hundred tremors with the heaviest measuring three-point-five on the
    Richter scale.Full report

August 14, 1995
No need to Panic

    Chief Minister Reuben Meade says in spite of volcanic activity, his administration will continue to broaden the
    economic base of the island. He said his administration was fully committed to putting funds into any
    investment activity in Montserrat.”  Full report

August 17, 1995
BDF Nurses Help OUT....Full report

August 17th 1995
Bank Manager Advises on Crisis Management

    The Manager of Barclays Bank here has urged businessmen to plan their way out of a crisis brought on by
    volcanic activity. Norris Vidal was at the time speaking at a Forum organized by the Montserrat Chamber of
    Commerce and Industry……Full report
 
August 17th 1995
Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosts economic Forum

    The Montserrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) is applauding its all day forum last Wednesday
    as a positive initiative. It says the business community demonstrated the ability to contribute to the economic
    development of the volcano stricken island.The exercise according to the MCCI was intended to produce ideas
    aimed at stimulating ‘optimism and revitalizing confidence in the economy of Montserrat…. Full report