I am KOIN 6 Meteorologist Steve Pierce. I’m a third-generation and native resident of Vancouver, Washington, who personally lived through the eruption of Mount Saint Helens on May 18, 1980. As I reflect back on that day long ago, I would like to share with you the story of that day through my own reflections.
It was 46 years ago today that residents of the Pacific Northwest witnessed one of Mother Nature’s most destructive events. The eruption of Mount Saint Helens is the deadliest and most destructive volcanic event in US history. It was also the first eruption in the contiguous 48 states since the eruption of Mount Lassen in Northern California between 1914 and 1917. Although the Mount Lassen eruptions were significant, they pale in comparison to the destructive force of Mount Saint Helens on Sunday, May 18, 1980, at approximately 8:32 a.m.
A large 5.1 magnitude earthquake rumbled on the mountain that Sunday morning, causing the largest landslide ever recorded on Earth. Within 60 to 90 seconds of the landslide, the mountain unleashed its full fury, obliterating the top 1,300 feet of the once beautiful 9,677-foot-tall snow-capped cinder cone mountain. Over the next 5 to 10 minutes, a lateral blast of superheated gases, rocks and debris reached speeds of over 600 MPH and more than 500 degrees Fahrenheit, swept across the land.
In total, 57 people perished that morning. Most notable was USGS geologist David Johnston, who was standing on a ridge just a few miles north and west of the summit. Johnston famously radioed the USGS headquarters in Vancouver, Washington. I am reminded of his final words, “Vancouver, Vancouver, This Is It!” Johnston was never heard from again and to date his body has never been found. In 1993, when crews were redeveloping Highway 504 that would ultimately lead to the new Johnston Ridge observatory, they found some remnants of Johnston’s camper trailer near the ridge where he was camping on that fateful day 46 years ago…