"If I lived in Portland Oregon, and Mt St. Helen's started spewing (again). I'd grab a BOB and plan a camping trip."

I live 60 miles as the debris flies from St. Helens, and I would just stay home (Portland is just a tiny bit closer). I'm almost the exact same distance from Mt. Rainier (the next one expected to blow -- 5 times the size of St. Helens). At this distance (clear of the blast zone), ash is the big problem. It comes down as light as snow, but when it gets wet, it compares to wet concrete. I would rather be here to shovel it off the roof before it rains. Besides, you have to keep stopping to clear out your air filter, like every 2 miles or so.

"... how about a motorcycle?"

If fallout or falling debris was an issue, you might as well just stand downwind stark nekkid. But a motorcycle could be useful... I am visualizing myself on a motorcycle, with my dog on the back, three cats in the Lexan-domed sidecar, and four really PO'd chickens in a crate in a tiny trailer. HA! No room for a BOB!

"...you can escape Mother Nature but only if you choose not live in a path of destruction..."

Where is that? Not the eastern edge of the Ring of Fire (earthquakes & volcanoes), nowhere near New Madras, Missouri (earthquakes), nowhere along the Gulf Coast or the entire state of Florida (hurricanes), or the east coast (hurricanes, major "frost issues"), or near Yellowstone (volcano), or the Midwest (tornados), AZ is as dry as a bone if the water gets turned off, the northern U.S. sometimes resembles Antarctica... where is that safe place?

IMHO, outwitting Ma Nature can be a real trick! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sue