Photo by Michael Armstrong Drivers wait to get their cars washed Friday morning at the Star Car Wash on Ocean Drive. Jeff Grant, an employee at the car wash, said lines extended back to the airport turnoff Thursday night.

If any ash fell, it was like another spot on a leopard as the lower peninsula began cleaning up from the dusting. Today, with the mountain still rumbling and sending ash to other parts of the state, area residents are faced with clean-up.

Light snow dampened down the ash on yards and streets, but didn't help thousands of cars covered in a light brown-gray film. Car washes reported lines stretching 20 cars deep or longer, with waits as long as 90 minutes. At the Star Wash on Ocean Drive, employee Jeff Grant said the counter on the automatic wash had about 70 customers Thursday night and at least 40 Friday morning.

For indoor pets needing to make trips outdoors, Vicki Craig, veterinarian at Homer Veterinary Clinic, urged avoiding trips outside during ashfall and limiting animals' time out of the house afterwards. After an animal has been outdoors, be sure to wipe down its feet and coat as soon as comes back inside to minimize the irritation ash can cause.

Food or water exposed to ashfall should be cleaned as soon as possible and kept in a protected place in case of future ashfalls. Outdoor water tanks should be skimmed to remove any ash on the surface. Hay and grains should be kept off the ground and, preferably, in a covered and protected location.

"We've had a lot of calls, especially about horses. What we're advising those people is if they have a barn or lean-to, some place to get the animal under cover, that would be best. If they're unable to do that, have a blanket to at least try to protect them as much as possible," Craig said. "Ideally, though, keep them in."

Precautions for humans are a good guide when it comes to animal care. That also goes for animals with underlying health problems, such as heart conditions or asthma.

"Pretty much anything done for us is what we'd want for animals," Craig said. "Limit exposure in particular when ash is directly falling and then, if outside, keep food up off the ground and make sure they're got a clean water source."

Not only humans and animals are subject to impacts from ash. Computers also are at risk.

"That little fan on the back will just suck ash in and grind it through your computer," said Gayle Forrest of Tech Connect.

Shutting down the computer and covering it with a garbage bag as soon as ash begins to fall offers the necessary protection.

"Once the ash stops flying around, you're safe to turn them back on," Forrest said. "If you notice ask inside the building, clean it up. If you don't see ash inside the building, you're good to go."

Automobiles also are subject to damage from volcanic ash. According to information provided by the U.S. Geologic Survey, oil should be changed frequently. In light ash conditions, the USGS recommends changing oil at 500-1,000 mile intervals and lubricating all chassis components at each oil change. Ensuring clean air filters also are important. For more information on volcano hazards, visit the Web at volcanoes.usgs.gov.

"Basically, make sure your air filter is clean and that you wash your vehicle as soon as you can," said Jeff Rogers at Alyeska Sales and Service, adding that having an extra filter on hand is a good plan.

Gus Van Dyke of Scruggs Automotive and Tire agreed.

"Driving in this stuff that's blowing up, it's just like powdered snow so have the car washed more often to keep the grit out form underneath," he said.

Van Dyke also carries a gallon jug of water with him to pour over the windshield before using his wipers in order to minimize scratching it with the ash.

Randy Igou of NAPA Auto Parts and Doris Torsen of Carquest said air filter sales have increased since Redoubt began erupting earlier this month.

"We've been hit pretty hard and are out of filters for some vehicles, so give us a call," Igou said, adding that new supplies of air filters can be ordered and arrive the following day.

Torsen discouraged the use of pantyhose as automotive air filters during ashfall.

"A lot of people promote that, but it's only OK on a very short term basis because they filter almost too good and will restrict air flow," she said. "The best thing to do is have an extra car air filter on hand."

With future volcanic eruptions and ashfall a possibility, knowing where to go for up-to-date information is important. Toward that end, Bob Painter, fire chief with the Homer Volunteer Fire Department, has initiated a direct telephone line to provide current data from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management.

"The direct line is 435-3199," said Elaine Grabowski, HVFD departmental services coordinator. "That's a local number."

The recording is updated daily or more frequently if acceleration in activity will impact Homer. A phone recording with volcano updates from the AVO also can be heard at (907) 786-7478.

"In addition, people should know we have a lot of literature here at the fire station's front entrance about ash fallout and safety and survival in most emergencies," Grabowski said.

The fire station is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

"Stop by and we'll help with whatever questions they have about safety and getting things prepared," Grabowski said.

With computers down during ashfalls, people can still get ash alerts and other information the low-tech way -- by radio. The National Weather Service puts out ash advisories on its weather alerts, available through radios receiving a weather alert broadcast. Tech Connect, Ulmer's and Kachemak Gear Shed all sell weather alert radios for under $100.

No air quality advisories were issued Friday, but the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Air Quality, issued an alert Thursday for the western and lower Kenai Peninsula. DEC advised people to avoid unnecessary exposure to ash and to wear dust masks. Contact-lens wearers also were advised to switch to eye glasses. People with respiratory conditions such as asthma or emphysema were advised to take special precautions.

Even after ash had fallen, people were advised that ash could still be a problem, said Cindy Dettmer-Shea, a meteorologist with the Division of Air Quality in Anchorage. Ash can remain on trees and be blown about by cars and trucks, and will remain a problem after break-up and when roads begin to dry out.

"Just because the volcano is not erupting, you might want to keep in mind this is going to stick around for a while."

Late Thursday and Friday's explosions produced more flooding on the Drift River, with two lahars, or muddy debris flows, recorded. The latest lahars were smaller than on Monday. An overflight late Thursday afternoon by Alaska Volcano Observatory scientists showed no steaming blocks on the river indicating dome failure, said Chris Waythomas, an AVO geologist. Some glacial ice was seen. About a half-inch of ash covered the Crescent Valley near Redoubt.

Although views were the clearest yet of Redoubt, steam at the summit kept scientists from seeing a new lava dome. Based on seismic measurements, scientists believe dome formation has begun.

"Should that become the case, we'll have these quiet periods where dome growth develops followed by collapse of lava domes that can generate a lot of meltwater," Waythomas said. "It's possible we're going to get into this dome building cycle where these lava domes are extruded, where they grow to a certain size and collapse. This happened repeatedly in the 1989-90 eruption."

Although much ice and snow remains on Redoubt, the latest eruptions stripped a skinny part in the upper canyon of the Drift River bare to bedrock, Waythomas said.

Engineers from Cook Inlet Pipeline Inc. inspected the Drift River Terminal on Wednesday. No scouring of a dike surrounding the seven-tank farm was seen. Mud had splashed to within five feet of the top of the outer dike, a gravel berm with concrete armoring, said Cmdr. Joe Losciuto, U.S. Coast Guard sector Anchorage.

"The dikes did their job. They held as they were supposed to," he said.

Five of the seven tanks are empty and clean of oil, with gates opened in the tanks. Plastic barrels seen in some photo on the AVO Web site also are clean and had been awaiting pickup. Those will be recovered soon to keep them from going into Cook Inlet, Losciuto said.