31 Years Ago.....This Week

This Wednesday marks the 31st anniversary of the Mt. St. Helens massive volcanic eruption here in the Pacific Northwest.  It is important for us to never forget our history and the important lessons learned from each of our natural disasters. 

This website posted 31 pictures in honor of the 31st anniversary and it is a rather amazing slidedeck of the before and after looks of the mountain.

On Tuesday, May 17th, Volcano Views & Brews Lecture Series will occur at Bella's Courtyard in downtown Vancouver at 6:30 p.m. with two volcano watchers who will share their story about being so close to the mountain on that historic day.

And, if you'd like to visit Mt. St. Helens, the USGS has a website that shares key information about what you need to know when planning your trip.

This tragic event claimed the lives of 57 people on May 18th; however, many more would have been lost without the heroic efforts of emergency responders who worked tirelessly to enforce the evacuation routes throughout the 2-month period when the mountain first started rumbling.

Today's Preparedness Question:
Does your emergency preparedness kit include a breathing mask and a set of goggles for each member in your household? 

Check out FEMA's website on preparing for volcanoes for more handy tips: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/volcanoes.shtm