DEC urges the public to be prepared in the event of an ashfall. The Volcano Preparedness website (from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management) provides very useful information including volcanic ash health risks, maintenance of vehicles, and ash clean-up.

All residents of areas where there is ash fall are at risk of breathing volcanic dust or getting ash in their eyes. Short-term breathing of volcanic ash is not known to pose a significant health hazard for healthy individuals. However, exposure to ash can make breathing difficult for infants, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments. People with existing respiratory conditions, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma, are more at risk for developing acute respiratory symptoms from breathing volcanic ash. Getting ash in the eyes can cause immediate irritation.

Simple precautions to limit exposure by using a paper dust mask or cloth scarf when outside offer very effective protection for most people.

From the Alaska Volcano Observatory (29JAN10): No eruptive activity has been detected at volcanoes in Alaska this week. Because there are no volcanoes at elevated color codes or alert levels, AVO has suspended its daily reporting procedures and is not issuing its usual daily status reports.

Seismic activity is monitored in real time at 27 volcanoes in Alaska. Satellite images of all Alaskan volcanoes are analyzed daily for evidence of ash plumes and elevated surface temperatures. Some volcanoes may currently display anomalous behavior but are not considered to be at a dangerous level of unrest. All monitored volcanoes are at or near normal levels of background seismicity.