Against The Odds

Mount St. Helens | Awakening | 1

May 6, 2025
In March 1980, Mount St. Helens awakens from 120 years of dormancy, alarming scientists with signs of an impending eruption. Local residents, including stubborn lodge owner Harry Truman, face a tough choice between safety and their home. On May 18, the volcano erupts with devastating force, catching many off guard. The podcast captures the tension among scientists, officials, and locals while detailing the catastrophic impact of the eruption, blending urgency and human stories against nature's fury.
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INSIGHT

Mount St. Helens Overdue to Erupt

  • Mount St. Helens had been dormant for 120 years but was actually overdue for an eruption based on a 4,500-year eruption cycle.
  • Shallow seismic activity directly under the volcano signals a significant build-up of energy and increasing eruption risk.
INSIGHT

Limits of Volcanic Prediction

  • Volcanologists cannot precisely predict volcanic eruptions despite advanced scientific achievements.
  • They might only offer a few hours' warning through changes in seismic activity or gas emissions before a major eruption.
INSIGHT

Politics Complicate Evacuation Efforts

  • Political and economic pressures severely hampered efforts to restrict access to Mount St. Helens.
  • Exceptions to evacuation orders meant more people remained exposed to risk despite scientific warnings.
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