Science
Related: About this forumToday in science: Great Alaska earthquake
March 27, 1964. On this date, at 5:36 p.m. local time, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake struck in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska, causing extensive initial damage and a subsequent tsunami. The quake came to be known as Great Alaska Earthquake, or sometimes the Good Friday Earthquake. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), it was the biggest earthquake recorded in North America since modern seismometers came into general use around 1900.
It had been a relatively warm day in Anchorage, Alaskas largest city, about 75 miles (120 km) from the quakes epicenter. Schools had been closed for Good Friday, along with many offices. In Anchorage, dozens of blocks of buildings were leveled or heavily damaged.
The city of Valdez, closest to the epicenter, was completely destroyed.
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The earthquake shook the land for nearly four minutes and caused many natural changes. The Latouche Island area, for example, moved to the southeast by nearly 60 feet (nearly 20 meters), according to the Alaska Earthquake Information Center (AEIC).
More:
http://earthsky.org/human-world/this-date-in-science-biggest-earthquake-in-north-america
dhol82
(9,351 posts)One of the really cool things to see was the crazy stuff that happened during the earthquake.
Amazing how one side of the street could suddenly be several feet higher.
Must have been horrifying for the residents.
Warpy
(110,913 posts)and sent me a snapshot of a commercial area, one side of the street up and the other side down, the roofs level with the road between them.
An acquaintance since then has talked about being near the coast and how fast the evacuation to higher ground was, or the tsunami death toll would have been far higher.
I know that in parts, there are decaying rooftops sitting at ground level, sand filling in areas that dropped two meters or so, other buildings atop high cliffs with no good way to get to them any more.
It's a good thing that the big ones there are relatively infrequent.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)I like to kayak Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee which was formed when the Mississippi river ran backwards due to the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812. The personal accounts from people living in the affected areas are horrific.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1811-1812newmadrid/summary.php
brewens
(13,400 posts)when the quake hit. I think he and his wife already lived at Homer. I don't know any real details other than they said it was terrifying for them all day. He was out on a job when it hit and it took him hours to get home, neither one knowing if the other was okay.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)If it happened now the loss of life would be much worse.
Laffy Kat
(16,356 posts)I barely remember it. That was interesting. Thanks.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Here's a page with pictures of the damage:
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/alaska1964/1964pics.php
Laffy Kat
(16,356 posts)Of course the destruction and loss of life is tragic.