Damage Done

The toll taken by the volcano's blast may never be fully measured. President Jimmy Carter toured the devastation and later stated, "Someone said this area looked like a moonscape. But the moon looks more like a golf course compared to what's up there."

• Millions of trees were blown down or charred by the intense heat.
• 221 homes and many vacation sites were lost.
• Lakes, rivers and streams were buried with mud and nearly all the fish were killed.
• Nearly every living thing above ground in the blast zone died.