Educational Media Reviews Online

This program is a wonderful overview of what has happened at the Mt. St. Helens site since the famous volcano erupted on May 18, 1980. Footage of the mountain pre-eruption, and of course post-eruption, is incorporated beautifully into a very informative and enjoyable documentary. The film overall was professionally done; with modern graphics, camera techniques and captions. The computer animations of blow-out, and ash and pyroclastic flows were state-of-the-art.

The focus of the program was the effect of this eruption on the towns, landforms, plants, and animals in the immediate area. The program begins with an overview of the scientific warnings that were issued and pre-eruption emissions and rumblings from the mountain. Locals and a few eyewitnesses at close range were interviewed about the blast. The person who took the only still photographs of the eruption described the scene from only 2 miles away.

Numerous scientists account for the immediate changes to the landscape and then explain how the areas ecosystem has reestablished itself. The following areas are explored: waterways and fish revival, small animal return (insects, rodents, birds), landscape clearing and rejeuvenation (plants and trees), and large animal return (elk and deer).

The site is now a National Monument of about 10 square miles and has been designated a "non-intervention zone". Ground recovery is being left to nature without any government intervention. Many areas are coming back with such speed that scientists have been taken by surprise. The program concludes with comments about the dangers of the Cascade Range and the function of the visiting centers that ring the volcano.

Mount Saint Helens: Out of the Ash is recommended for all ages, especially those that are interested in volcanology or the environment. It is nice to see the sweeping changes that have transformed the once-barren landscape, after "St. Helens turned day to night".