AVO explains possible effects on villages near the Mount Spurr

Anchorage, Alaska (Ktuu) – villages near the Mount Spurz could be exposed to the risk of experiencing more ash cases than the anchorage area If the volcano would break out.

According to the US Geological Survey Alaska Vulcano Observatory (AVO), villages such as Tyonek, which is about 40 miles southeast of the volcano, were able to look back by one centimeter ashfall.

According to the AVO, anchorage and the MAT SU, depending on the wind direction, could see ashes after an outbreak.

“[In 1992] The main axis of the cloud was not directly over Tyonek, “said Wallace. [in 1992]Did you know something about a ¼ inch?

“But if it were more along the axis of the cloud, there could be up to one centimeter or a little bit more.”

According to Wallace, a centimeter of ash would have similar effects on a quarter inches, although the cleanup may take longer.

“You need four inches or more ashes to structurally damage buildings,” said Wallace. “The community will still have the same effects with regard to the effects of the airways. They want to wear N95 mask and protective glasses. [ash] Material is the same. It will still be abrasive and scratches and equipment. “

The increase in the asch could increase contamination in open water sources, said Wallace. She recommends contacting people to the Department of Environmental Conservation in order to achieve a better understanding of how this could affect their water source.

According to Wallace, there are chemicals in the cloud and if it falls into a water source, it can contaminate them.

“It must be surface water supply to be contaminated. And if these communities do not have it – they drink from groundwater sources – no problem,” said Wallace.

After the outbreak, the rural communities were also able to fight with aviation travel. According to the Ministry of Transport (DOT), an outbreak could affect air traffic in the state.

“A lot of it depends on how much ashes are put into the air, and then you know where this ashes moved dependent on the wind speed and the wind direction,” the Dot spokesman Shannon McCarthy previously told Alaska's news source.

In order to prepare for a potential lack of care in Tyonek, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) announced that it sent the Tebuhna school in Tyonek four to five more masks than it was for other schools in her district.

“It is mainly of access to be able to maintain these supplies and fill them up if they were affected,” said Kevin Lyon, the planning and operating director for KPBSD.

Lyon also noticed that the school is equipped with water and food when the volcano runs out.

Do you see a spelling or grammatical error? Register it web@ktuu.com

Copyright 2025 Ktuu. All rights reserved.