Your eyes and minds have captured a remarkable story. One co-author who deserves special thanks is Ma. Theresa Regalado, who served as the first editor's right hand, literally and figuratively, following an unscheduled injury. Logistical assistance at Pinatubo required a special commitment, not only in hours, but in personal risk and sacrifice. Data sets in this collection, and successful mitigation measures that were based on those data, simply would not have been possible without sterling helicopter and fixed-wing support from the Philippine Air Force, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, and the late Agustin Consunji.
Critical reviews are essential for credibility.
Papers in this volume reflect work done both for immediate hazard mitigation and for research. For the second purpose, and for preparation of this volume, we gratefully acknowledge funds from our respective departments and a wide variety of research funding sources, including the U.S. National Science Foundation, that are acknowledged in individual papers. Budgetary circumstances forced the USGS to seek immediate help. We close this preface and acknowledgment with grateful thanks to the families of all who have worked at Pinatubo, for being supportive through initial risks and later exhaustion. We also recall, with enormous respect, wise guidance from the late Dick Janda that we use still today as Pinatubo lahars continue.