Folks in Anchorage, Alaska are living under the shadow of a looming threat—one that’s 11,000 feet tall and getting more restless by the day. Mount Spurr, the massive stratovolcano just 81 miles west of the city, is showing all the classic signs of a potential eruption. And not just your average lava-flow-and-smoke eruption—no, this one could shoot plumes of volcanic ash 50,000 feet into the air and coat entire neighborhoods in gritty, suffocating dust. Sound dramatic? That’s because it is.
Over the past year, seismic activity around Mount Spurr has quietly but steadily increased. What started in April 2024 with a few murmurs beneath the ground turned into a rumble by October, when the number of earthquakes jumped from 30 to 125 per week.
Then came the gases—elevated emissions from both the summit and a notorious side vent called Crater Peak, which has a history of erupting violently, most recently in 1992. That eruption blanketed Anchorage in ash and forced the airport to shut down for nearly a day.
This time, scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) are keeping close tabs on the mountain. With a magnitude 3.7 quake detected in early April and continued gas emissions, ground deformation, and small quakes popping off daily, the situation is growing more intense. The city’s emergency level was bumped to Level 2 back in March, signaling that preparations are no longer optional—they’re essential. And Anchorage residents are taking that to heart.
From stockpiling water, masks, and gloves to fitting their dogs with goggles and gas masks, the city is prepping like a sci-fi survival scene. TikTok user Angela Gonzalez showed off her eruption kit—complete with tape to seal off windows and stylish doggy protective wear—while others like Alliana Salanguit searched online for “pink, dog goggles, small” and found heart-shaped eye protection for their pup Iroh.
Local pet store AK Bark has been slammed. Owner Mark Robokoff reported selling over 500 pairs of dog goggles in March alone—and a shipment of 1,800 dog respirators is already spoken for. Anchorage’s pet community, it seems, is not leaving anyone behind.
The Municipality has issued official guidelines urging residents to keep pets indoors, ensure a two-week supply of food and medicine, and clean ash from fur to avoid respiratory issues. That ash, according to the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network, can seriously irritate the lungs, especially for people with asthma or heart conditions.
Back in ’92, the ashfall was thick enough to darken the midday sky and cause nearly $2 million in damages. While no one died directly from the eruption, there were fatal heart attacks during cleanup efforts. This time, authorities want to ensure that everyone—from kids to canines—is prepared.
So, will Mount Spurr erupt in the coming weeks? Scientists aren’t making definitive predictions, but all signs are pointing in that direction. If we see volcanic tremors—steady, rhythmic rumbling instead of isolated quakes—that could mean magma is moving and an eruption is imminent.
Until then, Anchorage is watching, waiting, and gearing up. Goggles on. Dogs suited up. The countdown begins.
