Potential catastrophe life and money in Washington State

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While we are on the subject of potential geological disasters in WA State.

See the label that says “Seattle”? I live under the “a.”

On the other hand, we have some of the nicest environments and weather in the country.

So I practice the very scientific method of keeping my fingers crossed. :wink:

Wendy

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The Mt. St Helens explosive volcanic eruption in 1980 turned the leeward side of the Cascade Mountains into the world’s premier area for growing frozen fench fry potatoes.

{{ Cherry and apple orchards and fields of potatoes soon sprouted in place of sagebrush, forming the region’s economic backbone. Then Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, blanketing the area with 6 inches of volcanic ash.

The ash formed a chemically supercharged soil that transformed local farming economies into global ones. Now, the area can grow twice as many tubers per acre as the famed potato fields of Idaho, said Dale Lathim, executive director of the Potato Growers of Washington.

This french fry boomtown is a climate change winner. But for how long? - The Washington Post

Even Nuclear Winter will have winners.

intercst

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Jared Diamond pointed out in Guns Germs, and Steel that land downwind from volcanos tend to be fertile.

Soils from Volcanoes

Why do people live on dangerous volcanoes? The main reason is the rich volcanic soil. People are willing to take high-risk gambles for the most basic things of life – especially food.

https://volcanology.geol.ucsb.edu/soil.htm

The Captain

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Short summary: NASA says we ain’t ready.

DB2

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