Mount Saint Helens

MSH is rumbling pretty furiously lately, but to quell all the fear (or at least answer all the text messages and email I've been getting):

No, I don't think there's anything to worry about. Yes, I live nearby. No, I'm not in any real danger. It would take an explosion way bigger than the 1980 eruption that blew off half the mountain before I'd be threatened.

The biggest issue here, in the event of a serious event, would be ash fallout - which is hard on the lungs, eyes, car engines, paint jobs, whatever - and mud pouring down the rivers. Neither has me even the slightest bit worried. My biggest concern is that I'll get woken up in the middle of the night to go help out one of the FDs deal with the various medical issues such an event might incur - probably mostly chest pains, anxiety attacks, breathing difficulties and the like (if we get ash fall).

So bottom line, unless we see half the Pacific Rim break off and fall into the ocean, I really doubt there's going to be anything to worry about.

So don't stress about it. I'm not.

(PS - There's a live webcam set up at Johnston Ridge, giving a real time view of the mountain. It gets slammed when there's an event, so don't expect to get a good picture all the time. But you might get a peek now and then. http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/)