If you're making plans for your garden this year in Southcentral Alaska, you might want to consider how to protect those plants from any potential ashfall from Mount Spurr in the event of an eruption.
The April Fools' prank of 1974 that fooled Sitka residents into thinking Mt. Edgecumbe was erupting was reported in newspapers across the country and even mentioned on the Paul Harvey radio show, and later rated by the Museum of Hoaxes as one of the best.
On Volcano Watch, we take a deep dive into the science of Mount Spurr and the chances it will erupt again, what we’ve learned from past eruptions, and the new tools we have to better predict the next one.
Volcanic ash can cause serious respiratory issues for both those with preexisting conditions and healthy individuals, but with proper preparation and precautions, Alaskans can minimize health risks when ashfall occurs.
School districts across Southcentral Alaska have released emergency plans in case of an eruption of Mount Spurr. These plans may inspire fear in some children, but there are ways you can talk to your children about a possible volcanic eruption.
Ahead of the potential Mt. Spurr eruption, Jeremy Zidek with the Alaska Office of Emergency Management offered preparation guidelines and suggested supplies that people may need.
The expected eruption of a volcano just 75 miles west of Alaska’s largest city has prompted municipal officials to upgrade their activation status to level two Thursday.
In a letter recently sent out to MSBSD families and staff the District says if the volcano does erupt, they will immediately work with borough and state officials to determine the best course of action, as the exact timing of an eruption is difficult to predict.
A volcanologist who captured video of the 1992 eruption of Mount Spurr from a plane recounts what he saw and what to expect for the next potential eruption.
USGS geophysicist Dave Schneider said activity for the volcano is still considered elevated above normal at code Yellow but has not increased significantly in the past week.
As Alaska prepares for the eruption of Mount Spurr, the state's two senators are part of newly reintroduced legislation to add more government spending to "enable the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to continue to improve its volcano monitoring and early warning capabilities around the country."
Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance said city officials are closely watching the mounting activity at Mt. Spurr volcano which scientists said Wednesday is likely to erupt in the weeks or months ahead.
As the Alaska Volcano Observatory continues to monitor volcanic gas emissions from Mount Spurr, the uncertainty of what to expect can put a damper in travel plans, especially when it comes to air travel.
Both the state veterinarian and a Fairbanks livestock expert say it is key to understand ashfall’s potential impact for pets and livestock, if Mt. Spurr’s likely eruption happens in the coming weeks or months.
