Nelia Ekeji’s Mitigation Brief on Mount St. Helens’ 1980s Eruption

Deemed one of the most deadly volcanic eruptions in history, Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980. The eruption destroyed miles of land and infrastructure, killing fifty-seven people. Since the eruption, there had been many developments in volcano forecasting technology, as well as structural and non-structural mitigation strategies.

In a brief, Nelia Ekeji points out that through coordinated efforts of volcano scientists, geologists, and seismologists, Washington State is now better equipped to handle effective evacuations in the face of a catastrophe. Dams, levees, and dredges for waterways were constructed; experts were put in place to monitor the volcano’s status; and coordinated regional plans for Mount St. Helens were created.