In Alaska, where natural beauty meets raw power, residents are facing a rising threat that’s got everyone talking—and prepping.
Mount Spurr, a towering 11,000-foot volcano just 81 miles from Anchorage, is rumbling with signs of a possible eruption, and folks across the region are getting ready for the worst.
A Volcano That Doesn’t Sleep Quietly
Mount Spurr isn’t just any mountain—it’s a giant sitting on a geological fault line.
Scientists have been closely monitoring it, and according to Matt Haney from the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), if it erupts, it’ll be explosive.
Picture plumes of volcanic ash shooting up to 50,000 feet and dark clouds spreading across Anchorage and beyond.
Each blast could last three to four hours, sending ash across the city, cutting visibility, and potentially disrupting everything from air travel to daily life.
The fine ash isn’t just a nuisance—it can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat, and it poses real risks for people with asthma, heart conditions, or lung disease.
Prepping Pets and People Alike
Across Anchorage, residents aren’t taking any chances.
From stockpiling N95 masks and jugs of water to gearing up their dogs with goggles and booties, the community is treating this like a slow-moving disaster drill.
One TikTok user, Angela Łot’oydaatlno Gonzalez, shared her prepping routine—complete with protective goggles for her pups.
“They’re not thrilled about the goggles,” she joked in her video. “Next step is ear protection and something to cover their bodies.”
She’s not alone. Locals like Alliana Salanguit and Jesslin Wooliver told NPR they rushed to buy safety gear for their dog, Iroh, right after hearing the eruption warnings.
“I searched ‘pink, dog goggles, small’—and there they were!” Salanguit laughed.
The City Steps Up Emergency Planning
With all the buzz, it’s no surprise that Anchorage officials raised the emergency alert to Level 2 on March 20.
This means local agencies are stepping up communication, reviewing eruption protocols, and sharing safety tips with the public—especially pet owners.
Residents are being advised to keep animals indoors, stock up on two weeks’ worth of food and medication, and clean ash from pets’ fur after any outdoor time.
Stores like AK Bark are even selling out of protective dog gear, including hundreds of pairs of pet goggles.
A shipment of nearly 2,000 dog respirators is also on the way.
Signs Point to Something Big Brewing
So what’s actually going on under the surface? Scientists say Mount Spurr has been showing worrying signs for over a year.
Seismic activity picked up back in April 2024, and by October, the number of weekly earthquakes jumped from 30 to 125. That’s a big red flag.
Just this week, the AVO confirmed that the volcano is still very much active, with small volcanic quakes being detected daily.
They’re keeping a close eye on anything that might signal an eruption—especially a sustained volcanic tremor, which usually comes right before an event.
Earthquakes and Rising Magma
To make things even more intense, a magnitude 3.7 earthquake hit on April 2 near Petersville, about 30 miles from Mount Spurr.
It was deep—about 65 miles below the surface—which typically means tectonic movement. But with all the volcano’s other activity, scientists think it could be tied to magma pushing up from below.
Since early March, Mount Spurr has also been venting gas from its summit and a side vent called Crater Peak—which is the same spot that erupted 30 years ago.
That eruption blanketed Anchorage in ash, shut down the airport for nearly a full day, and cost the city close to $2 million in damages.
Looking Back to Look Ahead
While the volcano’s summit hasn’t erupted in thousands of years, Crater Peak—its more active vent—last blew in 1992.
Back then, the ash turned day into night, closed businesses, and even led to health emergencies like heart attacks during cleanup efforts.
Scientists believe if an eruption happens again, it’ll likely follow the same path.
The volcano could erupt multiple times over several months, just like it did in 1992, with additional bursts in August and September.
The Countdown Begins
For now, all eyes are on Mount Spurr. Hundreds of small tremors have already hit within a 30-mile radius, gas emissions are rising, and the ground itself is shifting.
Experts agree that an eruption could happen in a matter of weeks or months—but there’s no way to pin down the exact day.
In the meantime, Ala
skans are preparing as best they can—with goggles, duct tape, and a whole lot of determination. Because when nature decides to make a move, all you can do is be ready.