Is Redoubt fixin' to blow? (Anchorage, Kenai: spring break, home, buying)

[Brother_Greg]

Hey all! I've been hearing she's fixin' to blow. I don't see you all talking much about it here on the boards though. Are you all worried about it? How serious are they saying the threat is? Is anybody packin' up and gettin' outta there?

Did any of you hear (don't know how you could miss it seeing it was all over the TV) about the Kingston Steam Plant here in TN that the ash pond spilled out just before Xmas? Boy, what a mess that is! I live 17 miles up the road from it. It's not like it's all over everything like it would be for you all, but it is in the river from which the water plant pulls the majority of our water. So I can sympathize with you over the ash be it man made or nature made if Redoubt blows.

I've met a lot and got to know a lot of good folks here on the AK boards and I am concerned for you and your families. So my heart and prayers are with you folks. Blessings to you all! Brother_Greg

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Brother_Greg

Hey all! I've been hearing she's fixin' to blow. I don't see you all talking much about it here on the boards though.

Here are two recent threads on the subject:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/alask...masks-out.html
http://www.city-data.com/forum/alask...lcano-ash.html

Originally Posted by Brother_Greg

Are you all worried about it?

Why worry about things you can't change? None of the Alaskans I've talked with are worried, but many are preparing. I will be buying more filters for my home furnace today, but that is as much preparation as I intend.

Originally Posted by Brother_Greg

How serious are they saying the threat is? Is anybody packin' up and gettin' outta there?

Serious. Unlike our color-coded Homeland Security alerts, a Code Orange with the Alaska Volcano Observatory actually means something. They are saying that it could erupt within the next few days to a week.

Originally Posted by Brother_Greg

Did any of you hear (don't know how you could miss it seeing it was all over the TV) about the Kingston Steam Plant here in TN that the ash pond spilled out just before Xmas? Boy, what a mess that is! I live 17 miles up the road from it. It's not like it's all over everything like it would be for you all, but it is in the river from which the water plant pulls the majority of our water. So I can sympathize with you over the ash be it man made or nature made if Redoubt blows.

That is the biggest problem with volcanic ash, it does get into everything, and it is persistent. When Redoubt spewed ash over Anchorage in 1992 during July, August, and September, there was no snow on the ground. I'm hoping that if it sends up an ash cloud this time that much of the ash gets bound up in the snow and washes away during Spring break-up.

Originally Posted by Brother_Greg

I've met a lot and got to know a lot of good folks here on the AK boards and I am concerned for you and your families. So my heart and prayers are with you folks. Blessings to you all! Brother_Greg

I don't think there is anyone close enough to Redoubt to be threatened. Although, it is close enough to the coast where a large quake from the volcano could potentially create a tsunami. The volcano's proximity to Nikiski, Kenai, Homer and Anchorage would give them little to no warning.

[The Grill God]

I agree the only thing you can do is prepare for it and ride it out.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Brother_Greg

Hey all! I've been hearing she's fixin' to blow. I don't see you all talking much about it here on the boards though. Are you all worried about it? How serious are they saying the threat is? Is anybody packin' up and gettin' outta there?

As said before, why worry, there's not much I can do about it. The Volcano is much bigger than me so if she's gonna blow I certainly don't have any say in the matter. So might as well sit back and enjoy the show!

[Grannysroost]

The good about this versus a quake or tornado is there is warning and time to be prepared, which as said is all that can be done...and not be stupid, and hope the ash goes more toward an unpopulated area...is literally not a puff of wind right now and just a few flakes falling...

[Barkingowl]

Of course if it blew like Vesuvius did when Pompeii was destroyed...

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

Of course if it blew like Vesuvius did when Pompeii was destroyed...

...then I'll try to strike an entertaining pose when my body is encased in lava!

[Barkingowl]

Excellent!

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

Of course if it blew like Vesuvius did when Pompeii was destroyed...

Pompeii was within 5 miles of the vent that created the pyroclastic flow. I think Kenai is the closest to the volcano at about 90 miles due east. I don't think there is much chance of a pyroclastic flow doing any harm to any population center. Although, a pyroclastic flow could head into the Cook Inlet and take out a passing vessel who happens to be too close to the volcano, but I think this is highly unlikely.

[Barkingowl]

There you go clouding a worst case scenario with facts Glitch. I want to hear what Floyd thinks.