The 1980 Eruptions of Mount St. Helens: Disregard for Volcanic Hazards and its Effects on State Preparedness

Abstract

This paper works to identify the disregard for volcanic hazards in the Cascades and how that affected the emergency response to the Mount St. Helens eruption. Using executive orders from prior governors, documents issued by the USGS, and prior volcanic activity, this paper works to identify why the state was so unprepared for the eruption, when they had received so much prior warning and experience of the hazards of these cascade volcanoes,