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Senate Resolution 146--Recognizing the 25th Anniversary of the Eruption of Mount St. Helens

Date: May 18, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Arts, Entertainment, and History


SENATE RESOLUTION 146--RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT ST. HELENS

Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. STEVENS, and Mr. PRYOR) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

S. Res. 146

Whereas, on May 18, 1980, at 8:32 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, the volcano of Mount St. Helens erupted, changing its elevation from 9,677 feet to 8,363 feet;

Whereas the eruption was triggered by an earthquake of magnitude 5.1 approximately 1 mile beneath the volcano;

Whereas the lateral blast covered an area approximately 230 square miles and reached as far as 17 miles northwest of the crater;

Whereas the velocity of the blast was estimated to be at least 300 miles per hour;

Whereas the pyroclastic flows covered 6 square miles, reached temperatures of 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit, and moved at speeds between 50 and 80 miles per hour;

Whereas, as a result of the eruption, over 4,000,000,000 board-feet of timber was blown down, which is enough material to build about 150,000 homes;

Whereas volcanic ash clouded the sky above eastern Washington, reached the east coast of the United States in 3 days, and eventually circled the globe in 15 days;

Whereas the eruption claimed the lives of 57 people; and

Whereas tens of thousands of animals perished: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) recognizes the 25th Anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 2005;

(2) acknowledges the importance of monitoring all 169 volcanoes in the United States and its territories;

(3) recognizes the invaluable work of the Department of the Interior, the United States Geological Survey, the United States Forest Service, the Directorate of Emergency Preparedness and Response of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Cascade Volcano Observatory in monitoring the activities of Mount St. Helens;

(4) acknowledges the progress in science that has led to a more comprehensive understanding of volcanology, seismology, and plate tectonics, thus enhancing the ability to predict volcanic activity and eruptions; and

(5) supports monitoring volcanoes and helping to develop emergency response plans to ensure that the people and communities of the United States are safe.

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