Redoubt is located 60 miles due west of Soldotna, where Alaska Christian College (ACC) is located, and 106 miles southwest of Anchorage, home to three Evangelical Covenant Church congregations. The volcano has a peak of 10,197 feet.
Seismic activity over the past week has varied, but remains strong, and the Alaska Volcano Observatory has raised its threat level to orange.
Rodney Sawyer, field director for the Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska (ECCAK), was scheduled to fly this morning from Anchorage to the Midwinter Pastors Conference in Chicago. “I hope I get out,” he said.
Redoubt last erupted December 14, 1989, dumping ash that coated streets throughout the region. An airplane flying 200 miles away nearly crashed when ash plugged its jet engines. The accompanying government photo was taken at the time of that eruption.
Residents have been stocking up on dust masks. “Ash fallout is a major concern and could really set back the work on the AEC (Amundsen Education Center) homes our students are building,” Chief Operating Officer Eric Johnson wrote in an email.
Other active volcanoes in the area have erupted in recent years. Mount Augustine erupted in December 2005 and activity lasted through March 2006. Mount Spurr erupted in 1992.
