Mt St Helens Casestudy Flashcards
What was the tectonic setting?
Converging plate boundary
The Fuca plate was sub ducted under the North American plate.
How many people were killed?
57
When did Mt St Helens erupt?
18th May 1980
What was the environmental impacts?
Deforestation of 3000 acres.
Only 14 out of 32 species in the area survived.
Over 250km of river ecosystem was destroyed.
What was the economic impacts?
Eight bridges were destroyed.
12% of total crops in the area were damaged or destroyed.
Clean up cost $250 million
What were the social impacts?
Lahars destroyed 200 homes, people suffered from post-traumatic stress, and 57 deaths.
Management?
Overall 2000 people were evacuated from the area.
Shut roads close to the volcano.
Gas readings at fumaroles to check for raised sulphur and chlorine levels.
Immediate responses?
Helicopter rescue mission took place for 2 weeks rescuing 130 people.
2 million gas masks were provided.
Long term responses?
Over 10 million trees were replanted.
New equipment installed to monitor the volcano at all times. (Satellite, spider robots)
Bridges rebuilt with a wider span to avoid future road blocks.
