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 Mount Redoubt Eruption May Cause Trace to Minute Amounts of Ash Fall in the Anchorage Area 

  

3/26/2009 | Contact: Genevieve Maurits 343-1402
Emergency Management

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) reports that two eruptions occurred this morning with the first eruption occurring at 8:34 AM and a larger eruption occurring at 9:24 AM. AVO projects that within 4 to 5 hours of the 9:24 AM eruption an ash cloud could reach the Anchorage area. Although the ash cloud may remain suspended, it is not unrealistic to expect trace to minute amounts of ash fall in the Anchorage area.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued ash fall advisories for the Western Kenai Peninsula including the cities of Kenai, Soldotna, Homer and Cooper Landing.  An ash fall advisory for these areas remains in effect until 4:00 PM this afternoon. To learn more visit NWS: http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/volcano.php

The MOA Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) continues to monitor the situation closely and coordinate with emergency management partners and other related agencies. The Cities response will be scaled to meet the significance of this event. OEM is currently at a Response Operations Level 1:

“A situation or threat has developed that requires increased public information and has the potential for agencies to take coordinated action. The Emergency Operations Center may be activated by OEM staff during regular business hours or additional hours as needed. Conditions are being monitored with information sharing networks activated. This level of activation may result from an approaching significant weather event, the potential for a public health situation, or a plausible threat of a terrorist event with an unspecified time or national location.” (MOA Emergency Operation Plan 2008)

Up to date information sources:

NOAA Forecast Office:
http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/volcano.php

Alaska Volcano Observatory, Mt. Redoubt:
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php

Municipal Department of Health and Human Services, Air Quality:
http://www.ci.anchorage.ak.us/healthesd/airqualityvolcano.cfm

Emergency Alert System:
http://www.muni.org/oem/eas.cfm

MOA Office of Emergency Management:
http://www.muni.org/oem

Anchorage Emergency Conditions Information Line: 343-4701

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