Answer:
The May 18, 1980 eruption of
Mount St. Helens (Washington) was the
most destructive in the history of the United States. Novarupta (Katmai)
Volcano , Alaska, erupted considerably more material in 1912, but
owing to the isolation and sparse population of the region
affected, there were no human deaths and little property damage.
In contrast, Mount St. Helens' eruption in a matter of hours
caused loss of lives and widespread destruction of valuable
property, primarily by the
debris avalanche, the
lateral blast, and the
mudflows.
