Portland Bureau of Emergency Management/Historic Disasters in the Portland Metro Area/Eruption of Mount St. Helens

1980 Post-eruption Ash Cleanup

Washington State patrol cars outfitted with makeshift air filters in the aftermath of the 1980 St. Helens eruption.


Date	Title	Author	Notes
2025.12.03	1980 Mt St Helens Ash Cleanup (presentation slides)	Jim Quinn, Metro	Presentation slides to PBEM and Portland NET on the 1980 ash cleanup effort.
2023.01.10	Volcanic Ash and Gas Impacts & Mitigation	United States Geological Survey	Variety of technical information about volcanic ash.
2007.__.__	Guidelines on Preparedness Before, During and After an Ashfall	Dr. Claire Horwell	Details procedures to follow if warning of a volcanic ashfall is given, recommends what to do during ashfall, and what methods are most effective for cleaning up volcanic ash after the event.
2000.05.14	Mount St. Helens remembered: 'God is speaking'	Ross Anderson, Seattle Times	Retrospective on the eruption.
1981.__.__	Mount St. Helens Ash - Properties and Possible Uses	Wayne S. Moen and Glennda B. McLucas, Washington Department of Natural Resources	From the abstract: "Several nonmetallic mineral-oriented companies have considered possible uses for the ash. These uses include: Abrasives, glass and ceramics, fillers, pozzolan, asphalt admixture, and fertilizer and insecticide carriers. Testing is in progress for a variety of these uses. To date, selling the ash as a souvenir of the eruption of Mount St. Helens has proven to be most profitable."
1980.06.30	Mt. St. Helens Ash Cleanup (report)	Jerry Markesino, Street Cleaning Supervisor, Portland Department of Public Works	Cited as a very helpful resource with details on how to address ashfall cleanup.