Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale, Illinois

Mount St Helens May 18 1980 remembered and aftermaths

Seattle AP recalls the Mount St Helens eruption of May 18 1980 and its far reaching toll. The blast removed 1200 feet of summit and hurled 1.5 cubic miles of debris skyward while a 1000 mile ash cloud darkened eastern Washington and northern Idaho. In Spirit Lake micro organisms begin anew as life edges back into the ash covered landscape. Communities near the mountain face emotional and economic strain with insurance claims and rising mental health needs. Government aid funds and river dredging costs mount as eastern Washington farm losses total 60 million. The region slowly shows signs of renewal as scientists study regrowth and wildlife reappears.