07/11/2025
A great bit of information about the local attractions
Mount Rainier lately doesn’t scare me because the mountain is active—that’s perfectly normal for a stratovolcano. What truly worries me is how little common sense and practical understanding people seem to have about what an eruption would actually mean for our region.
So let me break it down in a way that hopefully makes it easier to grasp, especially for those unfamiliar with the risks.
Who would be impacted?
If Mount Rainier were to erupt or experience a significant collapse, it wouldn’t spell doom for all of Washington. The greatest risk lies with communities downstream of its massive glacial system. Specifically, areas built on or near ancient lahar (volcanic mudflow) deposits—meaning they’ve been hit before—are most vulnerable.
The communities most at risk from lahars include:
Pierce/King County towns: Orting, South Prairie, Eatonville Ashford, Mckenna, Kapowsin, Buckley, Enumclaw, Puyallup, Sumner, parts of Auburn, Kent, Renton, and some areas of Tacoma.
Lewis and Thurston County areas: Packwood, Randle, Morton, Yelm... Even Chehalis and further south could see flooding.
Puget Sound communities where rivers empty: These could face significant rises in water levels, carrying heavy sediment and debris into the Sound.
Why does it matter?
Mount Rainier is heavily glaciated. If heated by magma or destabilized by an earthquake, enormous volumes of ice and rock can melt and mix into fast-moving lahars that surge down river valleys at speeds exceeding 30 mph. A large lahar could reach places like Orting in under 30 minutes, offering little time to evacuate.
For context:
The Osceola Mudflow, roughly 5,600 years ago, buried the area now known as Enumclaw under 50+ feet of debris and extended all the way to Kent and Auburn.
Smaller mudflows have happened even without major eruptions, simply triggered by collapses of weakened slopes.
A concerning thought experiment:
I found a map (and highlighted it red and purple) showing these river corridors—essentially the paths lahars would take. If this were to occur in spring, when snowpack and reservoirs are at their fullest, flooding could be even more catastrophic.
Imagine the area between the Nisqually River to the south and the Puyallup River to the north. If bridges and roads are taken out by lahars and flooding, that region could become an isolated “island.” "Purple highlighted area on the map." With Pierce County alone home to over 921,000 people, that’s nearly a million people potentially stranded—many without adequate supplies or plans.
And unfortunately, it’s likely most aren’t prepared. That’s how chaos sets in. Panic, looting, violence—because people wrongly assume it’s the end, when in reality, most outside the direct lahar paths would be fine if they just stayed put and had supplies.
The real danger zones:
The areas in the “red” on my map correspond to historic lahar channels like the Osceola path. Towns like Orting (population ~7,000) sit squarely in these. People there would have very limited time to get to higher ground—sometimes as little as 30 minutes. That’s why lahar sirens are installed, and evacuation drills are so crucial.
A call for common sense preparedness:
It’s startling to see people laugh this off. Yes, earthquake swarms are typical near volcanoes. But it’s also clear that many lack a basic understanding of geography—like how rivers funnel debris, how elevation saves lives, or how timing (spring vs. fall) affects water levels and flood severity. Imagine if the mountain were to erupt during the winter months when Western Washington can experience temperatures in the teens and single digits... and I only say Western because thats where the largest populations are. Eastern Washington will be greatly affected by the ash fallout. So many different factors to consider.
If a major event did happen, supplies would vanish overnight. Gas stations would run dry. Grocery store shelves would empty in hours. This is why preparedness isn’t panic—it’s responsibility.
👉 How to be prepared:
Know if you live in a lahar zone (many county GIS websites can show you).
Have an evacuation route and practice it if you’re in a fast-warning area like Orting.
Keep at least 2 weeks of food and water for your household.
Store a water filter, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, medications, and extra pet food.
Keep cash on hand—ATMs and card systems may be down.
Have a way to get information if cell towers go out (NOAA radio).
Here's a quick look at some of my preparedness stash:
✅️Shelf-stable food: (freeze- dried & canned) atleast two weeks worth.
✅️Mutiple water solutions: flters, LifeStraws, purification tablets, rain catchment supplies
✅️First aid and trauma kits, plus medications and pet meds
✅️Fire-making tools: waterproof matches, lighters, magnesium starters
✅️Shelter items: tents, tarps, bivvy sacks, blankets
✅️Cooking: Jetboil, camp stoves, propane & fuel reserves
✅️Navigation comms: compass, physical maps, hand-crank radio, satellite phone
✅️Power: solar chargers, hand-crank lights, battery banks
✅️Security: ammo, self-defense tools
✅️Critical paperwork: IDs, insurance, titles, important contacts in hard copy
✅️Hygiene: from soap to masks, menstrual products, toilet paper
✅️Truck & camper rigged to double as a mobile shelter if we ever need to get out fast
✅️Blow up raft, life jackets
✅️Pets: Food, documentation, meds
Talk to your neighbors and make a plan together.
Most people won’t be directly buried by a lahar. The greater threat comes afterward: isolation, shortages, and civil disorder. Being prepared means you can stay calm, help others, and weather the chaos without adding to it. Do your part now, and get educated on the topic. It's good information to know. Be it used for a volcanic eruption, or any other geographical emergency.
