5-20-2019

COUGAR, Wash. — Saturday marked the 39-year anniversary since Mt. St. Helens erupted, killing dozens, destroying 150 square miles of forest, and sending an ash cloud around the world.

Major David Mullen of the U.S. Air Force reserve saw the landscape that day, describing it as “miles and miles and miles of devastation; it looks like an atomic bomb leveled the area.”

The USDA’s Forest Service tweeted out “before and after” photos of Mt. Saint Helens on the anniversary including shots taken as the volcano was erupting.