The state’s leading experts in volcanology and volcanic dangers in California met to discuss the next big bang earlier this month.

According to the US Geological Survey, a volcanic eruption occurs in California about as often as the San Andreas Fault Zone has a large-scale earthquake, which is about 10 times in the last 1,000 years.

Experts from the California Emergency Management Agency, USGS’s California Volcano Observatory and the California Geological Survey created the first Volcano Hazard Annex to the State Emergency Plan.

The meeting occurred at Cal EMA’s headquarters near Sacramento on Feb. 12, and the stakeholders identified state and federal assets that would be necessary during a volcanic eruption.

The Volcano Annex will integrate hazard and socioeconomic information that is accessible to emergency managers of all levels of government.

About half of the nation’s 169 young volcanoes are considered dangerous by USGS standards. California has two volcanoes – Lassen Volcanic Center and Mount Shasta – that are considered of the highest priority for increased monitoring.