Rainier stands 14,411 feet. Like St. Helens, a volcanic eruption is not only unpredictable but also how, and where. The Calera in Yellowstone Park blew the entire top of the mountain. St. Helens was somewhat north and east. Rainer could just top-off sending mud flows in all directions. It could cause Lahar's in any direction. It could cause havoc in any direction. A major mudflow north could wipe out Orting, Puyallup. South, to Olympia. There are numerous rivers originating from Rainier. It's like an earthquake, which fault, how deep, the protective sediment, the rock layers above, etc. Back to genealogy...its like what genes you have from which ancestor that determines just how bad you're going to be...through no 'fault' of your own. Ron Bestrom ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2001 7:57 PM Subject: Re: Orting, Washington > Ken, > > If Rainier ever 'blew' which towns in the area would be directly impacted? > > Regards, > > Steve. >