Eruptions

Redoubt takes over the headlines

Published by

Erik Klemetti

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It is either a slow news day, or something about the eruption watch at Redoubt has captured the attention of someone at CNN.com as it is now the headline on the website (see above). This is interesting (and odd) to me considering that, over the last few days, very little has changed in the status of Redoubt. In fact, AVO has said things have, in fact, settled down a bit. However, they are still thinking that an eruption is imminent, but maybe in the scales of days to weeks rather than hours. The Anchorage Daily News does have a nice map of Anchorage’s area volcanoes and when they last erupted (see below). Beyond this, the news at Redoubt is, well, there is no news except they are keeping an eye on it.

In a sidenote while we’re on the subject of headlines, ABC News is making a big deal that the Stimulus bill recently passed contained this (as an example of waste):

  • $200 million for the U.S. Geological Survey to monitor earthquakes and volcanoes

Now, I don’t want to get into politics, but can someone explain to me how this is waste considering the lack of funding for most volcano and earthquake monitoring facilities? I’m excited to see the USGS getting more money for this stuff – and yes, it does create jobs because the USGS can hire more people to monitor volcanoes and seismically active area.

9 responses to “Redoubt takes over the headlines”

  1. Redoubt continues its holding pattern « Eruptions

    Reply
  2. crosspatch

    “can someone explain to me how this is waste”
    It isn’t waste but it doesn’t belong in an “economic stimulus” bill. It belongs in the regular government appropriations bill. That money is not an economic stimulant that will inject cash into the general economy to bootstrap the kinds of businesses that employ large numbers of people.

    Reply
  3. David

    seismic activity has increased over the past 3 hours where Redoubt is
    volcanoes.usgs.gov/avo/webicorders/RSO24hr_heli.png

    Reply
  4. Brian_in_Bellingham

    The problem is that this is a STIMULUS bill, not a regular budget bill. I think a lot of people, including myself, are ok with more money to monitor volcanoes, but the purpose of this bill is not public safety but to STIMULATE the economy. This is NOT the regular budget that congress passes every year. That is where this money should be appropriated from. People want honesty from their politicians, and they are not getting it.
    An analogy. You have been in an accident, and are dying. The ER doc gets to you, and starts telling you about how you should be dieting and exercising. Great adivce, but you are DYING now, you need emergency help NOW. But if you complain, people will say you are against dieting and exercising. No, you are not against that, but you need to get out of this emergency first, then start talking about diet and excercise.

    Reply

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“It’s not far-fetched that almost everywhere in the world where you have volcanoes you have mythologies or new gods being created.”

~ Werner Herzog

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