A volcano is an opening in the Earth’s crust that allows molten rock, gases, and debris to escape to the surface, sometimes in an explosion or eruption. During an eruption, lava and other debris can flow up to 100 mph, and become destructive to anything is it’s path. Volcanic ash can also become hazardous, as it can travel hundreds of miles and cause severe heath problems. Living in Western Oregon, we enjoy our beautiful mountains, but they are a part of what’s known as the Cascade Arc – an 800 mile chain of volcanoes expanding up the Cascade Crest from Northern California, up to Canada.
When you think of volcanoes, you may be picturing the ‘shield volcanoes’ of Hawaii. However, Oregon is home to cinder cones, calderas, composite, and shield volcanoes.
Besides the destruction of the initial eruption, volcanoes can also contaminate water supplies, damage machinery and structures, and reduce visibility through smog and harmful gases in lower elevations. Even though these events are rare, we have witnessed some of these harmful effects as recently as 1980 when Mount Saint Helen’s erupted just north of Portland, after weeks of earthquakes leading up to the eruption. For months, the mountain emitted gases and ash into the air, with sections of the mountain moving and threatening landslides, avalanche and floods, until it erupted in a large enough blast to obliterate everything within 20 miles. 57 people were killed in this event.
Events like this are difficult to nearly impossible to mitigate for, but you can stay safe by practicing emergency preparedness with your family, being aware of local alerts and warnings, and taking them seriously when you hear a notice to evacuate.
Know the risks and hazards of where you live, and practice emergency preparedness with your family. Visit USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory to track the alert level of the volcano nearest to you.