Identify and describe 3 ways humans have interacted with this volcano, including positive and negative interactions. (Do this in class today)

Mount St. Helens has been described as 500 atomic bombs going off.  When Mount St. Helens erupted, the people who were killed were never found.  The devastation was enormous.  After the eruption of Mount St. Helens, scientists noticed that there were about 120 lakes formed and people now use the lakes for fishing.  To reforest the area, 18 million trees were planted over 6 years.  In 1992 the area was designated as the national volcanic monument and is used today for research, education, and recreation.  There are ceremonies and celebrations to commemorate the 1980 volcanic eruption.

Mount St. Helens Interview

I interviewed my dad about the eruption of the Mount St. Helens volcano that occurred on May 18, 1980.  My dad, who was 17 years old at the time, remembers weeks prior to the eruption all the news shows talking about the possible eruption.  There wasn’t constant news available like there is today, but the 6:00 pm news was very focused on Mount St. Helens.  My dad was fascinated about a man named Harry Truman who owned a lodge close to Mount St. Helens.  Harry Truman was a cantankerous older gentlemen.  My dad thought that Harry Truman seemed a bit stubborn, but could be nice if he liked you.  My dad remembers that weeks prior to the eruption that Harry Truman was advised by the authorities to leave his lodge because of the dangers of Mount St. Helens.  Harry Truman refused to leave because all his precious memories were at his lodge.  My dad couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t leave Mount St. Helens at the time, but now being older he realizes why he didn’t leave.  Because Harry Truman was older, my dad felt that he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.  Sadly, Harry Truman died when Mount St. Helens erupted.

When the eruption happened my dad can remember ash settling on the cars in Coquitlam.  He felt sorry for the people affected by the eruption.  Other than seeing some ash he can’t remember it affecting his life significantly.

When my dad was learning about Mount St. Helens he remembered when he saw the Hope Slide when he was younger.  Even though Mount St. Helens was many times worse, it gave my dad something to compare it to.  Both events were caused by unpredictable nature.