Robert Reynolds

A Fine Gray Rain: in the Shadow of Mount Pinatubo Robert Reynolds

In 1991, Mount PInatubo awoke after 500-yrs dormancy. Nearby, America's Clark Air Base evacuated military personnel and dependents to Subic Bay Navy Base. One thousand Air Force and civilians remained to safeguard Clark AB. A series of violent volcanic eruptions hurled ash, rock and gas into the sky. At the same time Typhoon Yunya blew in off the Pacific and earthquakes repeatedly rattled the Philippines countryside. As the rain-laden ash fell back to earth, aircraft hangars, warehouses, homes and buildings crashed to the ground as muddy ash covered the terrain. When the eruptions let up, military officials began evacuating tens of thousands from the country while those deemed mission-essential began salvage operations. This is a true account of this historic event from the perspective of a small group of civilians who were present throughout.