Alaska’s Redoubt Volcano Nears Eruption

VOLCANO REDOUBT UPDATE

The Alaska Volcano Observatory is buzzing this week with geologists and other scientists bracing for the eruption of the Redoubt Volcano which sits on the Cook inlet surrounded by Glacier Ice.  Experts predict the volcano could erupt within hours, days or weeks at this point and bases this prediction on the seismic activity being produced by the volcano currently.

Redoubt last erupted in 1989 causing a 40,000 foot plume of ash to rise into the sky

The last time the volcano erupted in 1989, Redoubt produced ash clouds up to 40,000 feet above sea level which dumped silica ash over Alaska for five months.

Geologist report that there are no homes close enough to the volcano to be affected by the magma flow in the event of an eruption.  The silica dust, however, can travel hundreds of miles in only a few hours.

HomeInsurance.com urges homeowners who are concerned about the affects of volcanic dust and lava on their homes to contact their homeowners insurance company and check their coverage. Most standard home insurance policies cover damages caused by volcanic activity.

Geologists report that the greatest threat from volcanic activity is to airliners. The silica dust produced by the ash clouds can get sucked into the jet engines where it melts and then refreezes- causing the engines to stall.  After Redoubt’s last eruption in 1989 a 747 flew into an ash cloud near Anchorage and all four engines stalled.  Luckily, the pilot was able to start two  of the engines and land the plane safely.