Dear Patients,

It seems there is never a dull moment when you live in Alaska. With the recent uptick of activity on Mt. Spurr we find ourselves in one of those exciting and somewhat stressful moments. As a result, we’ve been receiving a lot of questions from patients with respiratory concerns regarding what to do in case of an eruption.

From a respiratory health perspective, please approach a volcanic ash event similar to dealing with wildfire smoke. Plan to stay inside, with the windows and doors closed. Use air purifiers if available and wear a well-fitting NIOSH-approved N95 mask when outdoors.

If you get caught in ash fall without an N95 mask, a fabric mask, even your shirt over your nose and mouth, is better than nothing,

As always, if you are experiencing an acute respiratory crisis, please call 911.

AAICA will maintain regular operations, regardless of the volcano’s warning level until there is an active eruption. After an eruption (or any other natural disaster), please plan to visit our website for information on clinic closures and re-opening updates. 

Below you will find links to State of Alaska (SOA), US Geological Survey (USGS), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) websites on volcanic eruptions, preparation, and safety, along with downloadable PDF information that you can keep on hand.

Stay safe out there!

Yours in good health!
Dr. Laura Moore & Team

The SOA “Ash Alert” fact sheet is a downloadable pdf with a practical list of steps for prepping your home, family, auto, and workplace for the impacts of an ash event.

Guidelines on preparing BEFORE an eruption.

Guidelines for what to do DURING an eruption.