My belief is, after talking to scientific advisers and others, that there is no major immediate threat to the health or safety of those in this region.

We hope that banks will act promptly to pass on to their loan customers the benefits of the reduction in costs of funds they are now experiencing.

The Federal Reserve actions will help to assure greater availability of funds for lending to small businesses, farmers, automobile dealers and buyers, and many other borrowers.

My guess is that over a period of time the Mount St. Helens explosion will be one of intense interest to geologists and volcanologists and others from all over the world.

It's let me and the Secretary of Interior and Agriculture... all see at first hand what the devastation is, which I could never have dreamed before I came here.

The actions taken today by the Federal Reserve Board to relax credit restraints are appropriate in view of the success in moderating credit demands and reversing inflationary psychology since the March 14 program was announced.

This is a natural disaster of unprecedented dimensions.

I can't promise you that I as President have the ability to prevent a volcanic eruption.

Governor Evans asked this morning that I declare the eight counties in the panhandle region of Idaho to be an emergency area.

This was later followed, in 2 or 3 minutes, by the pressure wave, that travels at the speed of sound.

This material is not toxic.

I hope that everyone will continue to wear facemasks of some kind to minimize the material that will go into one's lungs.