Volcano Eruption!

Mount Redoubt, approximately 200 miles from Anchorage, erupted late last night. There have been 5 explosions at the mountain's summit so far (right now it is 11 am on the 23rd). The 4th and 5th sent plumes of ash up to 50,000 feet! Luckily the winds carried the ash fall to the north and northwest (past Anchorage). I got a call last night at 1:15 am from the hospital that ash could be coming toward Anchorage and the hospital would be having to shut of the HVAC systems if ash reached the hospital. Therefore, no heat for our patients and staff. The ash is harmful if inhaled into the lungs, it is very abrasive. Due to the ash passing by Anchorage, it is business as usual right now (thank goodness). However, if the winds shift to the east, things may get exciting. The ash is still pouring out of the volcano. Towns north of Anchorage have reported ash up to a 1/4 inch deep.

Here is an observatory flight photo of the crater at the summit of Redoubt taken last Friday. You can see the steam billowing out of the surface.

Ash fall in Trapper Creek. It looks like snow, but it is not.

Ash on a car along the Parks Highway. You can't drive in the ash fall. It can destroy engine parts due to the corrosive nature of the ash particles.

Here is an eruption photo from the morning of the 23rd (today)

Map of where Redoubt is in accordance with Alaska's major towns. notice all the other volcanoes around the area.

Unfortunately, as I am writing this, the CNO just popped her head in my office an told me the wind is slowly shifting and the municipality of Anchorage will be calling us to go over the procedures if the ash hit us, so I gotta go. No worries though, the hospital has plenty of supplies if we have to stay the night.