Alaskans Prepare For Volcanic Eruption

An anonymous reader writes "Mount Redoubt, or Redoubt Volcano, is an active stratovolcano in the largely volcanic Aleutian Range of Alaska. The once quiet volcano has begun to roar once again. Its last eruption was in 1989 and geologists suggest that the next one is upon us. Alaskans who lived through the earlier eruption are stocking up on breathing masks and goggles. Starting on Friday, January 23 2009, the level of seismic activity increased markedly, and on Sunday AVO raised the Aviation Color Code to ORANGE and the Volcano Alert Level to WATCH. On the basis of all available monitoring data AVO regards that an eruption similar to or smaller than the one that occurred in 1989-90 is the most probable outcome. We expect such an eruption to occur within days to weeks." From the AP article: "Alaska's volcanoes are not like Hawaii's. 'Most of them don't put out the red river of lava,' said the observatory's John Power. Instead, they typically explode and shoot ash 30,000 to 50,000 feet high — more than nine miles — into the jet stream. 'It's a very abrasive kind of rock fragment,' Power said. The particulate has jagged edges and has been used as an industrial abrasive. 'They use this to polish all kinds of metals,' he said." The server for the Alaska Volcano Observatory appears to be overloaded and is unresponsive.

Comments

Let's work to avoid another "Katrina"

[bogaboga]

My prayer to all those concerned is to work hard in order to avoid another "Katrina." Just like Katrina, we know this natural disaster is probably coming, like Katrina, we know its likely to be big and therefore affect many folks.

So let us prepare and not screw up everything. Events that transpired during and after Katrina were no less than events that would have transpired in a 3rd world country. Now that's shameful and we should avoid it.

Re:Let's work to avoid another "Katrina"

[will_die]

Doubtful that it will be another Katrina for three reasons
1) the People in he nearby cities are preparing for it. Buying emergencies suppies, food, flashlights,etc.
2) The mayors in nearby cities are informing the people, have emergency procedures already in place and plan to follow them.
3) the governor is working with the mayors, has plans aready in place for when emergencies happen, and is prepared to activate emergency personnel as needed.

Re:Let's work to avoid another "Katrina"

[argStyopa]

"Just like Katrina, we know this natural disaster is probably coming, like Katrina, we know its likely to be big and therefore affect many folks."

And just like Katrina, anyone too stupid to look after their own behinds and expect the government to come save them is an idiot who probably is due for a Darwinistic culling.

Be intelligent. Prepare yourself. Evacuate as YOUR judgement suggests is reasonable, and understand that the consequences for being wrong could be severe, so you might want to err on the side of caution.

What shamed me as an American during Katrina wasn't the much-publicized "failure" of Bush and co. No, what disgusted me was that in a society with free public education to age 18, widespread information-distribution technology, and AMPLE transportation resources, we have apparently bred a new generation of sheep, er, Americans with no interest in helping their fellow-man, so dependent and with so little motivation that even self-preservation can't get them to lift a finger in their own interest.

Re:Let's work to avoid another "Katrina"

[Anonymous Coward]

Also, Alaskans are, in general, more prepared to go without power, heat, water, transportation, and the like for months at a time. They call it "winter."

It's also known as "self-sufficiency", and it works a lot better than "government dependence", which was what was expected by too many people after Hurricane Katrina.

Re:Let's work to avoid another "Katrina"

[Waffle Iron]

No. There are not enough safe areas on Earth to hold all or even the majority of the population

Sure there are. They're just not generally close enough to the trendy seashores for most people's tastes.

Today, people are actually packed tightest into the relatively small high risk areas because they have the most attractive geological features and climate.

Re:Let's work to avoid another "Katrina"

[khallow]

Three things. First, the metro area of Anchorage is about a third the size of the metro area of New Orleans. So it is comparable in size. Second, most of the metropolitan area of New Orleans wasn't significantly affected by Hurricane Katrina. The real damage was caused by two or three collapsed dikes in downtown New Orleans. If they hadn't failed, then Katrina would have been just another relatively destructive hurricane. In comparison, my impression is that most of the Anchorage metro area is at risk from a tsunami. There are parts that are at high elevation, but I gather most of the city (and much of the surrounding area) is near sea level. Third, any tsunami causing event is going to give maybe a few tens of seconds of warning.

If Anchorage gets hit directly by a big tsunami, it'll probably rank among the worst volcanic disasters of history and far greater than that of Hurricane Katrina. This is something which I believe Mount Redoubt is capable of. The mountain is 9000 feet high. If a major chunk of that volcano blows north, it'll run down a valley all the way to Cook Inlet with the force directed towards Anchorage.

Re:Let's work to avoid another "Katrina"

[Darby]

It's also known as "self-sufficiency", and it works a lot better than "government dependence", which was what was expected by too many people after Hurricane Katrina.

LOL,

that's why Alaska is the queen of the welfare states. How about you start being a little bit self-sufficient and stop taking 2 dollars from me for every dollar you pay in taxes ya god damned welfare leech.

Re:and Mr. Present, the Messiah

[MasterOfMagic]

Wow, is that the best the dittoheads can come up with? I think Rush was much more comical and insightful on drugs.

Unnecesary link

[stm2]

This is not Microsoft website in the day of the "slammer", this is a public service in an emergency, I think it would be wise to remove the link.

Re:pansys...

[MarkvW]

Good luck to you. I hope that your risk assessment, based on 'human time,' isn't overridden by a powerful volcanic incident, occurring in geologic time.

Re:Really?

[MartinSchou]

*shakes head* Why overdo it, when a single mistake would have been a lot smarter:

"Yes, perpare! She's gonna bowl!"

Re:pansys...

[TFloore]

Okay, you are

real manly

But perhaps not terribly consistent.

Why would you

video tape the event

if there is

nothing to see here

.

Aside from a cool volcanic eruption, what am I missing?