How many people were killed in the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
Sep 21, 1999 · The 1964 Alaska earthquake, the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America, struck Alaska’s Prince William Sound, about 74 miles southeast of Anchorage. Most of Alaska’s mainland felt the...
What type of fault caused the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
On March 27, 1964, at 5:36 p.m. (03:36 3/28 UTC), a great earthquake of magnitude 9.2 (moment magnitude) occurred in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska. The epicenter was about 10 km east of the mouth of College Fiord, approximately 90 km west of …
What day did the 1964 earthquake hit Alaska?
1964 Good Friday Earthquake. On Good Friday, March 27, 1964, the largest earthquake ever to hit North America struck Alaska. It was the second-largest earthquake ever recorded, second only to Chile in 1960, which experienced a quake of 9.5 Moment Magnitude (Mw). The epicenter of this awesome quake was a mere 45 miles west of Valdez and 14 miles under the earth's crust.
Why did the 1964 Alaska earthquake occur?
Landslide and slumping effects in the Turnagain Heights area, Anchorage, Alaska, caused by the March 28, 1964, earthquake. Close-up of Government Hill elementary school, which was destroyed by the Government Hill landslide. Anchorage, Alaska. The waterfront at Seward a few months after the earthquake, looking north.
What is the name of the most powerful earthquake to ever hit Alaska in 1964?
The 1964 Alaskan earthquake, also known as the Great Alaskan earthquake and Good Friday earthquake, occurred at 5:36 PM AKST on Good Friday, March 27. Across south-central Alaska, ground fissures, collapsing structures, and tsunamis resulting from the earthquake caused about 131 deaths.
Why is the 1964 Alaska earthquake famous?
Contents. The 1964 Alaska earthquake, the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America, struck Alaska's Prince William Sound, about 74 miles southeast of Anchorage. Most of Alaska's mainland felt the magnitude 9.2 earthquake, which wobbled Seattle's Space Needle some 1,200 miles away.Mar 6, 2018
Was there a warning for the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
At 5:36 pm (Alaska time) on March 27, 1964, without warning, the largest recorded earthquake in U.S. history occurred in Alaska's Prince William Sound. Valdez, Anchorage, and many villages along the Alaska Coast were significantly damaged or destroyed by the magnitude 9.2 earthquake and the tsunamis that followed.
How far away was the 1964 Alaska earthquake felt?
1,200 milesThe earthquake was felt throughout most of mainland Alaska, as far west as Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands some 480 miles away, and at Seattle, Washington, more than 1,200 miles to the southeast of the fault rupture, where the Space Needle swayed perceptibly.
What is the strongest earthquake in the US?
The Largest Earthquakes in the United StatesRANKMAGNITUDEDATE1.9.2March 28, 19642.8.8March 9, 19573.8.7Feb. 4, 19654.8.3Nov. 10, 193826 more rows
How did the 1964 tsunami happen?
On March 28, 1964, at 03:28 GMT, an earthquake occurred in Prince William Sound of Alaska triggering a Pacific-wide tsunami. The earthquake had a surface-wave magnitude of 8.4, an epicenter of 61.1° N, 147.5° W, and a depth of 23 km.
What caused the tsunami of 1964?
The earthquake, also known as the 1964 Alaskan earthquake, the Great Alaskan earthquake, and the Good Friday Earthquake, caused significant earth shaking for at least 4 minutes, and affected virtually all of the coastal communities in Alaska.
How many people died in the 9.2 Alaska earthquake?
The earthquake that occurred on March 27, 1964 was the largest in US history (magnitude 9.2 on the Richter scale) and the second largest ever recorded in the world. 1 Historical reports show that 115 people in Alaska died and an estimated 40-50 hospitalizations occurred for severe injuries.
What did scientists learn from the 1964 Alaskan earthquake?
Lessons Learned. Scientists learned a lot from data gathered after the 1964 Alaskan earthquake and put the knowledge to good use. A broad earthquake-monitoring system was created to gather data and help seismologists predict future earthquakes and their potential damage.
Why was the 1964 earthquake so big?
According to the United States Geological Survey, “The 1964 earthquake was giant because of the large area of the fault that slipped during the earthquake and the large amount of slip, or relative motion, between opposite sides of the earthquake fault. ”.
How many people died in the earthquake?
The earthquake triggered a swell of devastating tsunamis, landslides and submarine slumps which caused massive property damage and loss of life. The death toll reached 131 people: 15 died during the initial tremors and the rest in the subsequent tsunamis and landslides.
How long did the Great Alaska earthquake last?
Four minutes may not seem like a long time, but when it comes to earthquakes, it’s an eternity, and tremors during the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964 lasted at least four minutes.
What was the strongest earthquake in the US?
Most of Alaska’s mainland felt the magnitude 9.2 earthquake, which wobbled Seattle’s Space Needle some 1,200 miles away. The earthquake was so powerful it registered in all U.S. states except Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware. The quake also led to significant scientific breakthroughs in subduction earthquakes and how to minimize their destruction.
What caused the landslide in Anchorage?
In the Turnagain Heights area of Anchorage, soil liquefaction (when the ground behaves like a liquid) triggered a landslide which moved parts of a suburban bluff 2,000 feet into the bay, taking up to 75 homes with it. The control tower at Anchorage International Airport collapsed, killing an air traffic controller.
What is the Pacific tsunami warning center?
This led to the establishment of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (originally called the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center) to alert people when a widespread tsunami is possible. The warning system doesn’t monitor local tsunamis, however.
Where was the 1964 earthquake?
1964 Alaska earthquake. Fourth Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska, looking east from near Barrow Street. The southern edge of one of several landslides in Anchorage, this one covered an area of over a dozen blocks, including five blocks along the north side of Fourth Avenue. Most of the area was razed and made an urban renewal district.
Where was the most damage in the Alaska earthquake?
Most damage occurred in Anchorage, 75 mi (120 km) northwest of the epicenter. Anchorage was not hit by tsunamis, but downtown Anchorage was heavily damaged, and parts of the city built on sandy bluffs overlying " Bootlegger Cove clay " near Cook Inlet, most notably the Turnagain neighborhood, suffered landslide damage. The neighborhood lost 75 houses in the landslide, and the destroyed area has since been turned into Earthquake Park. The Government Hill school suffered from the Government Hill landslide, leaving it in two jagged, broken pieces. Land overlooking the Ship Creek valley near the Alaska Railroad yards also slid, destroying many acres of buildings and city blocks in downtown Anchorage. Most other areas of the city were only moderately damaged. The 60-foot (18 m) concrete control tower at Anchorage International Airport was not engineered to withstand earthquake activity and collapsed, killing William George Taylor, the Federal Aviation Agency air traffic controller on duty in the tower cab at the time the earthquake began.
How many people died in the Shoup Bay earthquake?
Run-up of 67 m (220 ft) at Shoup Bay, Alaska. Casualties. 131 killed. The 1964 Alaskan earthquake, also known as the Great Alaskan earthquake and Good Friday earthquake, occurred at 5:36 PM AKST on Good Friday, March 27. Across south-central Alaska, ground fissures, collapsing structures, and tsunamis resulting from the earthquake caused about 131 ...
How many scientists were involved in the Alaska earthquake?
In Anchorage, at the urging of geologist Lidia Selkregg, the City of Anchorage and the Alaska State Housing Authority appointed a team of 40 scientists, including geologists, soil scientists, and engineers, to assess the damage done by the earthquake to the city.
How tall was the control tower at Anchorage?
The 60-foot (18 m) concrete control tower at Anchorage International Airport was not engineered to withstand earthquake activity and collapsed, killing William George Taylor, the Federal Aviation Agency air traffic controller on duty in the tower cab at the time the earthquake began.
What was the damage to Anchorage?
Anchorage sustained great destruction or damage to many inadequately earthquake-engineered houses, buildings, and infrastructure (paved streets, sidewalks, water and sewer mains, electrical systems, and other man-made equipment), particularly in the several landslide zones along Knik Arm.
What year was the Shoup Bay earthquake?
Most of the area was razed and made an urban renewal district. 4–5 minutes. / 60.908; -147.339. Major. Run-up of 67 m (220 ft) at Shoup Bay, Alaska. The 1964 Alaskan earthquake, also known as the Great Alaskan earthquake and Good Friday earthquake, occurred at 5:36 PM AKST on Good Friday, March 27.
What was the magnitude of the earthquake in 1964?
On March 27, 1964, at 5:36 p.m. (03:36 3/28 UTC), a great earthquake of magnitude 9.2 (moment magnitude) occurred in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska. The epicenter was about 10 km east of the mouth of College Fiord, approximately 90 km west of Valdez and 120 km east of Anchorage.
How many people died in the Alaska earthquake?
The four minute duration of shaking triggered many landslides and avalanches. Major structural damage occurred in many of the major cities in Alaska. The damage totalled 300-400 million dollars (1964 dollars). The number of deaths from the earthquake totalled 131; 115 in Alaska and 16 in Oregon and California.
How deep is the earthquake in Chile?
The epicenter was located at Lat. 61.04N, Lon. 147.73W, at a depth of approximately 25 km. This earthquake is the second largest earthquake ever recorded in the world. after a M9.5 earthquake in Chile in 1960. The duration of rupture lasted approximately 4 minutes (240 seconds).
How many aftershocks were there in the first day of the earthquake?
In the first day there were 11 aftershocks with magnitudes greater than 6.0; in the next three weeks there were 9 more. Smaller aftershocks continued for more than a year. n addition to damage in the epicentral region immediately following the quake, long period seismic waves traveled around the earth for several weeks.
What was the second largest tsunami in history?
The 1964 Alaska tsunami was the second largest ever recorded, again following only the one caused by the 1960 Chile earthquake (4 meters at Sitka).
How many people died in the tsunami?
Of the 119 deaths attributable to the effects of the ocean, about one-third were due to the open-ocean tsunami: 4 at Newport Beach, Oregon; 12 at Crescent City, California; and about 21 in Alaska. Local waves claimed at least 82 lives.
How much area was affected by the earthquake?
The area where there was significant damage covered about 130,000 square kilometers. The area in which it was felt was about 1,300,000 square kilometers (all of Alaska, parts of Canada, and south to Washington). The four minute duration of shaking triggered many landslides and avalanches.
What was the magnitude of the 1964 earthquake?
It was the second-largest earthquake ever recorded, second only to Chile in 1960, which experienced a quake of 9.5 Moment Magnitude (Mw). The epicenter of this awesome quake was a mere 45 miles west ...
How many people died in the Valdezean earthquake?
Thirty-one Valdezeans (mostly children) lost their lives during the earthquake. Due to the unstable condition of the town, many residents were forced to live in roadhouses for a period of a couple of weeks. Help from Fairbanks arrived almost immediately. This aid came in the form of food, clothing, and entertainment.
How much damage did the Valdez Bay earthquake do?
Two docks in town were completely destroyed. $15 million dollars in damage was reported. The earthquake triggered a huge submarine slide that caused millions of cubic yards of earth to slide into the Valdez Bay. Large seiche waves caused additional damage.
What river did the Alaskan bridge fall into?
Alaska. This reinforced concrete deck of highway bridge across Twenty Mile River near Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet fell into the river during the earthquake; the adjacent steel railroad bridge survived with only minor damage.
What caused the collapse of Fourth Avenue in Anchorage?
Collapse of Fourth Avenue near C Street, Anchorage, due to earthquake caused landslide. Before the earthquake, the sidewalk at left, which is in the graben, was at street level on the right. The graben subsides 11 feet in response to 14 feet of horizontal movement. Anchorage district, Cook Inlet region, Alaska. 1964.
What happened in Turnagain Heights, Alaska?
Note undamaged buildings nearby. Landslide and slumping effects in the Turnagain Heights area, Anchorage, Alaska, caused by the March 28, 1964, earthquake. Close-up of Government Hill elementary school, which was destroyed by the Government Hill landslide. Anchorage, Alaska.
What happened to the Hillside apartment building in Anchorage?
The Hillside apartment building in Anchorage was severely damaged by the earthquake and has been razed. It was a split-level, five story building with steel posts and lintels, concrete floor slabs, and unreinforced concrete block walls and partitions.
Where is the highest recorded tectonic uplift on land?
Uplifted sea floor at Cape Cleare, Montague Island, Prince William Sound, in the area of greatest recorded tectonic uplift on land (33 feet). The very gently slopping flat rocky surface with the white coating which lies between the cliffs and the water is about a quarter of a mile wide.
Where is the waterfront after the Seward earthquake?
Anchorage, Alaska. The waterfront at Seward a few months after the earthquake, looking north. Note the "scalloped" shoreline left by the underwater landslides that severed tracks in the railroad yard which dangle over the landslide scarp and the windrow-like heaps of railroad cars and other debris thrown up by the tsunami waves. Alaska.
Where was the control tower in 1964?
Cook Inlet region, Alaska. 1964. Control tower at Anchorage International Airport, collapsed by earthquake shaking. Anchorage district, Cook Inlet region , Alaska. Close-up view of the damage created at the piers of the "Million Dollar" truss bridge by movement of the truss spans during the earthquake. Note the bent base plates, the sheared ...
What was the cause of the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
O n March 27, 1964, at 6:36 p.m. AKST (3:36 a.m. UTC), a fault between the Pacific and North American plates ruptured near College Fjord in Prince William Sound. The Alaska earthquake was a subduction zone (megathrust) earthquake, caused by an oceanic plate sinking under a continental plate.
Did the 1964 Alaska earthquake cause a tsunami?
The earthquake triggered a swell of devastating tsunamis, landslides and submarine slumps which caused massive property damage and loss of life. The death toll reached 131 people: 15 died during the initial tremors and the rest in the subsequent tsunamis and landslides.
How long did the 1964 Great Alaska earthquake last?
approximately 4.5 minutes The earthquake lasted approximately 4.5 minutes and is the most powerful recorded earthquake in U.S. history. It is also the second largest earthquake ever recorded, next to the M9. 5 earthquake in Chile in 1960.
How high was the 1964 tsunami in Valdez Inlet and what caused it?
The local tsunamis were generated by landslides, which were triggered by the earthquake. At the Valdez Inlet a large landslide was triggered by the earthquake generated a tsunami that had a run-up measured at 67.0 m in the inlet.
Has the US ever had a tsunami?
Large tsunamis have occurred in the United States and will undoubtedly occur again. The tsunami generated by the 1964 magnitude 9.2 earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska (Prince William Sound) caused damage and loss of life across the Pacific, including Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Washington.
Where was the greatest earthquake ever recorded?
southern Chile On May 22, 1960, a great Mw 9.5 earthquake, the largest earthquake ever instrumentally recorded, occurred off the coast of southern Chile. This earthquake generated a tsunami that was destructive not only along the coast of Chile.
What was the worst earthquake in US history?
April 18, 1906: A M7. 8 earthquake hit San Francisco, California at 5:12 AM. This is by far the deadliest earthquake in U.S. history, initially recorded at 700 deaths (which still exceeds number two), now it suspected that 3,000 people lost their lives from the earthquake and aftermath that ensued.
Scientific Background
- It was the largest U.S. earthquake ever recorded, and a turning point in earth science. Learn about the great leaps in research over the past 50 years.
- Abridged from Seismicity of the United States, 1568-1989 (Revised), by Carl W. Stover and Jerry L. Coffman, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, United States Government Printing Office,...
- It was the largest U.S. earthquake ever recorded, and a turning point in earth science. Learn about the great leaps in research over the past 50 years.
- Abridged from Seismicity of the United States, 1568-1989 (Revised), by Carl W. Stover and Jerry L. Coffman, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, United States Government Printing Office,...
- This USGS Fact Sheet by Thomas M. Brocher, et al. commemorates the Alaska Earthquake and examines the advances in knowledge and technology that have helped improve earthquake preparation and respon...
- Tetonic summary, data, and maps.
Videos
- Short video (4 min) by Stephen Wessells, USGS relating how the largest quake in U.S. history had profound and lasting impacts on our lives. The video features USGS geologist George Plafker who, in...
- “The 1964 Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami” lecture by George Plafker, USGS Geologist Emeritus.
- Short video (4 min) by Stephen Wessells, USGS relating how the largest quake in U.S. history had profound and lasting impacts on our lives. The video features USGS geologist George Plafker who, in...
- “The 1964 Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami” lecture by George Plafker, USGS Geologist Emeritus.
- IRIS video directed by Robert F. Butler explaining the science behind the earthquake. Animations explain the magnitude (Just how big is 9.2?), rupture processes, elastic rebound, and resulting tsun...
- An animation about tsunami-generating megathrust earthquakes using examples from Japan (2011), Chile (2010), and Alaska (1964) to describe structures that generate deadly tsunami…
Historic Photos and Videos
- This “Story map” combines an interactive map with historic photos of the earthquake.
- Historic photos of damage.
- A documentary chronicling the first 72 hours after the 1964 Alaska Earthquake and the response to the disaster by the United States Office of Civil Defense, U.S. Military, and local, state, and fed...
- This “Story map” combines an interactive map with historic photos of the earthquake.
- Historic photos of damage.
- A documentary chronicling the first 72 hours after the 1964 Alaska Earthquake and the response to the disaster by the United States Office of Civil Defense, U.S. Military, and local, state, and fed...
- These films were shot by amateur and professional cameramen in the hours and days following the earthquake at locations such as Anchorage, Kodiak, Seward, Valdez, Chenega, Afognak.
News and Media
- Ned Rozell’s personal account of his meeting with George Plafker, one of three USGS Geologists who responded to the Alaska quake a few days after event. Plafker spent most of the summer in Alaska r...
- The 1964 earthquake was a defining moment in a territory that had just achieved statehood. Fifty years later, it continues to shape Alaska, its people, and the science of earthquakes. Thi…
- Ned Rozell’s personal account of his meeting with George Plafker, one of three USGS Geologists who responded to the Alaska quake a few days after event. Plafker spent most of the summer in Alaska r...
- The 1964 earthquake was a defining moment in a territory that had just achieved statehood. Fifty years later, it continues to shape Alaska, its people, and the science of earthquakes. This opinion...
Historic USGS Publications
- USGS circular published one month after the earthquake by Arthur Grantz, George Plafker, and Reuben Kachadoorian detailing their scientific investigations of the quake.
- Seismically triggered landslides are one of the greatest geologic hazards in Anchorage. These maps, by Randall W. Jibson and John A. Michael, depict seismic landslide hazards in Anchorage and are a...
Conferences
- SSA’s 2014 Annual Meeting will provide a stimulating exchange of research on a wide range of topics with colleagues from all over the world. Oral presentations, poster sessions, exhibits, field tri...
- The Tenth U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering will provide an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to share the latest knowledge and techniques to mitigate the d…
- SSA’s 2014 Annual Meeting will provide a stimulating exchange of research on a wide range of topics with colleagues from all over the world. Oral presentations, poster sessions, exhibits, field tri...
- The Tenth U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering will provide an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to share the latest knowledge and techniques to mitigate the damaging effe...
See Also
- Read personal accounts of the earthquake and submit your own story.
- IRIS webpage dedicated to George Plafker, a USGS field geologist noted for his studies of subduction-zone and backarc thrust earthquakes. Through very complete mapping of vertical deformation and f...
- Earthquake history, photos, videos, and more from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security …
- Read personal accounts of the earthquake and submit your own story.
- IRIS webpage dedicated to George Plafker, a USGS field geologist noted for his studies of subduction-zone and backarc thrust earthquakes. Through very complete mapping of vertical deformation and f...
- Earthquake history, photos, videos, and more from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management.
- The Alaska Earthquake Alliance coordinates earthquake awareness and preparedness activities throughout Alaska. The purpose of the group is to bring together both institutions and individuals who ha...
Overview
The 1964 Alaskan earthquake, also known as the Great Alaskan earthquake and Good Friday earthquake, occurred at 5:36 PM AKST on Good Friday, March 27. Across south-central Alaska, ground fissures, collapsing structures, and tsunamis resulting from the earthquake caused about 131 deaths.
Lasting four minutes and thirty-eight seconds, the magnitude 9.2 megathrust e…
Death toll, damage, and casualties
As a result of the earthquake, 131 people are believed to have died: Nine died as a result of the earthquake itself and another 122 died from the subsequent tsunami all over the world. Five died from the tsunami in Oregon, and 12 died from the tsunami in Crescent City, California.
The quake was a reported XI on the modified Mercalli Intensity scale"indicatin…
Geology
On March 27, 1964, at 5:36 p.m. AKST (3:36 a.m. UTC), a fault between the Pacific and North American plates ruptured near College Fjord in Prince William Sound. The epicenter of the earthquake was 12.4 mi (20 km) north of Prince William Sound, 78 miles (125 km) east of Anchorage and 40 miles (64 km) west of Valdez. The focus occurred at a depth of approximately 15.5 mi (25 km). Ocean floor shifts created large tsunamis (up to 220 feet (67 m) in height), whi…
Tsunamis
Two types of tsunami were produced by this subduction zone earthquake. There was a tectonic tsunami produced in addition to about 20 smaller and local tsunamis. These smaller tsunamis were produced by submarine and subaerial landslides and were responsible for the majority of the tsunami damage. Tsunami waves were noted in over 20 countries, including Peru, New Zealand, …
Aftershocks
There were hundreds of aftershocks in the first weeks following the main shock. In the first day alone, eleven major aftershocks were recorded with a magnitude greater than 6.0. Nine more struck over the next three weeks. In all, thousands of aftershocks occurred in the months following the quake, and smaller aftershocks continued to strike the region for more than a year.
Recovery efforts
Alaska had never experienced a major disaster in a highly populated area before, and had very limited resources for dealing with the effects of such an event. In Anchorage, at the urging of geologist Lidia Selkregg, the City of Anchorage and the Alaska State Housing Authority appointed a team of 40 scientists, including geologists, soil scientists, and engineers, to assess the damage done by the earthquake to the city. The team, called the Engineering and Geological Evaluation G…
See also
• 1965 Rat Islands earthquake
• List of megathrust earthquakes
• List of earthquakes in Alaska
• List of earthquakes in 1964
External links
• The Face of Disaster: The Great Alaska Earthquake – US Office of Civil Defense
• 1964 Good Friday Great Alaskan Earthquake – University of Arizona, Department of Geosciences
• 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake – United States Geological Survey