In 1980, as Mt. St. Helens threatened to erupt, local officials evacuated the area. They had one problem: Local lodge owner Harry R. Truman refused to go. He said the mountain and the lake his lodge sat on were like his arms and legs, and if he left, he would die. But that’s what would happen if he stayed. We explore the behavioral science behind why some people refuse to leave home in the face of natural disasters, through the complicated story of Harry R. Truman.

Truman’s story is told by his niece, 93-year-old Shirley Rosen, who used to work at his lodge during the summer, and who stood by in Seattle hoping her uncle would come to his senses. Jennifer Horney from the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware explains why people want to stay at home even though they might be in danger. Thomas Hinckley, a former environmental sciences professor at the University of Washington, gives us the lay of the land surrounding Mt. St. Helens. He climbed it before and after the eruption. You can see some of his “after” pictures on www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/podcast-episode-2.

As a “Home. Made.” listener, you’re eligible for an exclusive $2,000 credit toward buying a home. Use it to lower your interest rate or put toward closing costs. Visit https://www.rocketmortgage.com/homemade or call (866) 374-7050 to apply today.*

*Client will receive a lender credit of $2,000. This offer is only available to clients who call the dedicated phone number (866) 374-7050 or go through the dedicated website, apply, and close their loan through the dedicated program on or after June 12, 2023. Call (866) 374-7050 for cost information. Conditions and restrictions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Equal Housing Lender. Licensed in all 50 states. NMLSConsumerAccess.org #3030.