Updates to Yellowstone’s Emergency Plan After Biscuit Basin Explosion

When the Biscuit Basin, in Yellowstone National Park, had its hydrothermal explosion last year it was a dramatic display of what can happen in that area.

There was fear that it may have been a volcanic eruption. After all, Yellowstone is located on top of a very active volcanic area and is also prone to earthquakes.

READ MORE: DON'T Be Here During a Powerful Montana Quake

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) let people know that it wasn't volcanic activity that was the cause of the explosion, it was thermal activity.

⬇️See Dramatic Video from USGS About Biscuit Basin Explosion⬇️

The Yellowstone Volcanic Observatory (YVO) has released an updated version of its plans for response to geological hazards in Yellowstone, which includes hydrothermal, seismic, and volcanic activity in the area.

There has been a plan in place since 2010, with an update in 2014, and now a more recent update for 2025.

Yellowstone Updates Emergency Plans

According to the USGS, one of the major changes in the update is they are now going to be more in alignment with USGS Volcanic Science Center procedures. They would be using an "OVERT" concept. OVERT stands for "Observatory Volcano Event Response Team". It will also define roles and critical information and logistical support during a crisis.

The new plan also offers definitions of two types of crisis. There is an "event" and "activity with potential".

Examples of events are the 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake, which created Earthquake Lake, and now the more recent Biscuit Basin explosion. With situations like those they can now immediately add more monitoring and communicate with officials and the public about hazards.

Not everything can be defined as an "event" sometimes there are issues that evolve over time. With the addition of the "activity with potential", it allows the YVO to monitor areas more intensely as hazards can build into events they can prepare.

The update also includes "communication protocols" to make sure information is getting to the people who need it most.

For all of the updated YVO protocols you can view them here.