Mount St. Helens still monitored 36 years after eruption

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (KOIN/AP) — Thirty-six years after a deadly volcanic eruption at Mount St. Helens, the United States Geological Survey is still closely monitoring the volcano and others in the state.

Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, killing 57 people and eventually sending volcanic ash around the globe.

Those who experienced the eruption say it was an event they’ll never forget.

“All of a sudden we felt the ground shake and a huge black could grew in the sky,” Sheryl Fry told KOIN 6 News.

Daniel Renn said he knew it was a moment that would change the world.

“[It] pretty much changed everyone’s lives out here and changed the landscape,” Seth Moran with USGS said. “A volcano builds itself up over.. centuries and millennium.”

USGS monitors volcanoes in the North Cascades region through its Cascades Volcano Observatory. Activity this year has been considered normal.

The agency issues weekly reports on seismic activity near the volcanoes.

“One thing we learned is when it isn’t erupting it’s getting ready for the next eruption,” Moran said. “It’s going to happen.”

Washington’s 5 major volcanoes are Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount Baker, Mount St. Helens and Glacier Peak.