What happened during the Good Friday earthquake?
The Good Friday Earthquake was the precursor to a tsunami of epic magnitude that was as deadly as the earthquake itself. Precious lives were lost as a result of people being trapped in collapsing buildings and drowning as a result of the devastating tidal waves. Good Friday earthquake (1964) wreckage. Source: (theatlantic.com)
How many people died in the Good Friday earthquake 1964?
The Great Alaska Earthquake left 131 people dead, many of them killed by the ensuing tsunamis. Good Friday earthquake (1964) wreckage. Source: (themilitaryengineer.com) The magnitude of the Good Friday Earthquake registered 8.4 – 8.6 on the Richter scale and was reported as a 9.2 Moment Magnitude (Mw.)
What happened in the 1964 Alaskan earthquake?
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. [3] Across south-central Alaska, ground fissures, collapsing structures, and tsunamis resulting from the earthquake caused about 131 deaths. [4]
What is the Good Friday tsunami?
A tsunami is a mammoth-sized wall of water caused by an underwater eruption. The Good Friday Earthquake was the precursor to a tsunami of epic magnitude that was as deadly as the earthquake itself. Precious lives were lost as a result of people being trapped in collapsing buildings and drowning as a result of the devastating tidal waves.
Where did the Good Friday earthquake happen?
On March 27, 1964, Alaska experienced the largest-ever recorded earthquake in North America. Known as the Good Friday Earthquake, this event caused an underwater landslide that washed away the waterfront area of Valdez and resulted in the loss of 32 lives.
When was the Good Friday earthquake in Alaska?
March 27, 19641964 Alaska earthquake / Start date
Where did the 1964 Alaska earthquake occur?
On March 27, 1964 at 5:36pm local time (March 28 at 3:36 UTC) an earthquake of magnitude 9.2 occurred in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska.
How long did the Good Friday earthquake last?
On Friday, March 27, 1964, at 5:36 p.m. local time, a magnitude 9.2 megathrust earthquake shook Alaska for four minutes and 38 seconds. It was Good Friday. It is still the most powerful earthquake ever to be recorded in North America.
What is the largest earthquake ever recorded in the United States?
9.2 magnitudeThe largest earthquake to hit the U.S. was on March 28, 1964, when a 9.2 magnitude quake struck Prince William Sound in Alaska....The Largest Earthquakes in the United States.RANK3.MAGNITUDE8.7DATEFeb. 4, 1965LOCATIONRat Islands, Alaska29 more columns
What was the worst earthquake in the United States?
Prince William Sound, Alaska 1964 Though fatalities were minimal compared to the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, it was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North America.
What are the 5 largest earthquakes?
Largest Earthquakes ever recordedValdivia, Chile 22 May 1960 (magnitude 9.5) ... Prince William Sound, Alaska 28 March 1964 (magnitude 9.2) ... Sumatra, Indonesia 26 December 2004 (magnitude 9.1) ... Sendai, Japan 11 March 2011 (magnitude 9.0) ... Kamchatka, Russia 4 November 1952 (magnitude 9.0)More items...
What was the worst earthquake in history?
1. Valdivia Earthquake (1960)– 9.5.
Where was the largest earthquake in the world?
ChileEarth Science FAQs - Geology and Tectonics The biggest earthquake ever recorded, of magnitude 9.5, happened in 1960 in Chile, at a subduction zone where the Pacific plate dives under the South American plate.
What is the biggest earthquake in Alaska?
On March 27, 1964 at 5:36pm local time, a M9. 2 earthquake rocked the Prince William Sound region of Alaska. This earthquake and ensuing tsunami took 131 lives (tsunami 122, earthquake 9), and caused about $2.3 billion in property loss (in 2013 dollars; equivalent to $311 million in 1964).
Has a tsunami ever hit Alaska?
A 1,720 foot tsunami towered over Lituya Bay, a quiet fjord in Alaska, after an earthquake rumbled 13 miles away.
Did Alaska ever have a tsunami?
Description. The 1964 Alaska Tsunami was generated by a 9.2 magnitude earthquake, the largest ever recorded in North America.
What time did the Good Friday earthquake?
5:36 PMThe 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.
How far away was the 1964 Alaska earthquake felt?
The 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 was the depth of the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
1964, March 28, 1964, 03:36:14 UTC. 61.04 N, 147.73 W, depth 33 km, magnitude 8.4 MS, intensity X. Prince William Sound, Alaska. This great earthquake and ensuing tsunami took 125 lives (tsunami 110, earthquake 15), and caused about $311 million in property loss.
What happened to Turnagain Heights in 1964?
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.
Where was the epicenter of the earthquake?
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).
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.
What happened to Girdwood and Portage?
The hamlets of Girdwood and Portage, located 30 and 40 mi (48 and 64 km) southeast of central Anchorage on the Turnagain Arm, were destroyed by subsidence and subsequent tidal action. Girdwood was relocated inland and Portage was abandoned. About 20 miles (32 km) of the Seward Highway sank below the high-water mark of Turnagain Arm; the highway and its bridges were raised and rebuilt in 1964–66.
How long did the 9.2 earthquake last?
Lasting four minutes and thirty-eight seconds, the magnitude 9.2 megathrust earthquake remains the most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history, and the second most powerful earthquake recorded in world history. Six hundred miles (970 km) of fault ruptured at once and moved up to 60 ft (18 m), releasing about 500 years of stress buildup. Soil liquefaction, fissures, landslides, and other ground failures caused major structural damage in several communities and much damage to property. 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. Two hundred miles (320 km) southwest, some areas near Kodiak were permanently raised by 30 feet (9 m). Southeast of Anchorage, areas around the head of Turnagain Arm near Girdwood and Portage dropped as much as 8 feet (2.4 m), requiring reconstruction and fill to raise the Seward Highway above the new high tide mark.
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 ...
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.
Who published the Good Friday earthquake?
Alaska’s Good Friday Earthquake, a preliminary geologic evaluation. USGS circular published one month after the earthquake by Arthur Grantz, George Plafker, and Reuben Kachadoorian detailing their scientific investigations of the quake.
What was the magnitude of the 1964 earthquake?
On March 27, 1964 at 5:36pm local time (March 28 at 3:36 UTC) an earthquake of magnitude 9.2 occurred in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska. The earthquake rupture started approximately 25 km beneath the surface, with its epicenter about 6 miles (10 km) east of the mouth of College Fiord, 56 miles (90 km) west of Valdez and 75 miles (120 km) ...
How long did the Alaska earthquake last?
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. The map shows the epicenter of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake (red star), caused when the Pacific Plate lurched northward underneath ...
What is the 10th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering?
National Conference on Earthquake Engineering will provide an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to share the latest knowledge and techniques to mitigate the damaging effects of earthquakes and tsunamis.
What caused the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
The map shows the epicenter of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake (red star), caused when the Pacific Plate lurched northward underneath the North American Plate.
Where was the Alaska earthquake filmed?
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.
Who correctly interpreted the 1960 earthquake as a subduction zone event?
history had profound and lasting impacts on our lives. The video features USGS geologist George Plafker who, in the 1960’s, correctly interpreted the quake as a subduction zone event. This was a great leap forward in resolving key mechanisms of the developing theory of plate tectonics.
How big was the Good Friday earthquake?
The magnitude of the Good Friday Earthquake registered 8.4 – 8.6 on the Richter scale and was reported as a 9.2 Moment Magnitude (Mw.) It is second only, in world history, to the earthquake that occurred in Chile in 1960, which registered a 9.5 Mw. Initial shocks from the Great Alaska Earthquake, as it was also known, lasted nearly five minutes (four minutes and 39 seconds to be exact) and homes and other structures, as well as the streets, were literally ripped apart by the massive shock waves, making it seem much longer. The city of Anchorage, Alaska was hit the hardest and was literally left in rubble. Scientific equipment is available to measure earthquake activity as it is happening, but this is not the same as an early warning system for preparedness.
What was the earthquake in Alaska in 1964?
Those Alaskans who lived through it will never forget the calamity of March 27, 1964: the Good Friday Earthquake. Alaska is prone to earthquakes, moreso than California, and the Good Friday Earthquake , also known as the Great Alaska Earthquake, was "the big one." With a magnitude of 9.2, it's the most powerful quake ever to strike North America, and the second-strongest in recorded history. At 5:36 PM on Friday, March 27, 1964, fissures in the ground violently opened along a 600-mile fault, and for over four minutes the people living along it were shaken to the ground. Roads split open, houses crumbled, and the city of Anchorage suffered heavy damage.
How many aftershocks were there in 1964?
As early as March 28, 1964, just one day after the main shock, eleven major aftershocks were recorded registering more than 6.0. Within the next three weeks, nine more aftershocks struck with thousands to follow in the months to come. Much smaller aftershocks continued to occur in excess of one year.
How many people died in the Great Alaska earthquake?
Alaska, though, sees more than twice as many quakes as the lower 48. The Great Alaska Earthquake left 131 people dead, many of them killed by the ensuing tsunamis.
What happened to the Four Seasons Hotel in Anchorage?
In Anchorage, the newly completed Four Seasons hotel was demolished in the quake, while some villages on the Alaskan coast were completely destroyed. At the Anchorage International Airport, the control tower collapsed, killing the air traffic controller within. The Good Friday Earthquake displaced miles upon miles of land, left behind $311 million (1964 USD) in property damage and caused a death toll of 139 in all. Many of the deaths occurred far from the quake, as a result of the massive tsunami waves catching coastal residents unawares.
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 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.
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.
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 cities were affected by the tsunami?
Local tsunamis also caused destruction in Kodiak, Whittier and Seward . Downtown Anchorage had the most property damage mainly due to immense landslides, one of which dropped the business district nine feet.
How powerful was the earthquake in Alaska?
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.
Where was the Valdez tsunami?
Valdez was basically leveled. The largest tsunami wave of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake measured over 200 feet in height and was recorded at Shoup Bay near the Valdez inlet.
What year did the Alaska earthquake happen?
The 1964 earthquake generated interest and eventually scientific knowledge about Alaska seismology. Later in 1964, a permit was issued to the University of Alaska’s Geophysical Institute for installation of a seismic station near the grounds of the Park Hotel.
When did Denali National Park shake?
Reuse by other parties not permitted without contacting UAA Archives & Special Collections. Around 8:30am on November 30, 2018, the buildings in Denali National Park’s headquarters area began shaking—long enough for people to observe the strength of the tremor and start considering safety contingencies. The epicenter of the earthquake was ...
How many roads were damaged in the 2018 earthquake?
More than 50 highways and roads were damaged, but there are no reports of collapsed buildings, deaths or serious injuries. Road near Wasilla, Alaska, affected by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake of Nov. 30, 2018. The road ...
What is the Great Alaskan earthquake?
The Great Alaskan Earthquake (also known as the Good Friday Earthquake) led to stricter building codes to help buildings withstand future quakes. Earthquake. Today, the state of Alaska applies the International Building Code, considered the best available standard for seismic safety.
How many people died in the Great Alaskan Earthquake?
It lasted for five minutes and triggered widespread destruction, 2,000 landslides, a 98 ft high tsunami and killed 139 people. The Great Alaskan Earthquake (also known as the Good Friday Earthquake) led to stricter building codes ...
Which state has the best seismic safety standards?
Today, the state of Alaska applies the International Building Code, considered the best available standard for seismic safety. It requires buildings to be designed to resist possible ground motion determined by location and earthquake histories.
How many earthquakes does Alaska have?
Alaska is located along a very active seismic zone and averages almost 40,000 earthquakes a year, with more large quakes than the other 49 U.S. states combined. David Bressan. I'm a freelance geologist working mostly in the Eastern Alps.
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…
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, …
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…
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
• 2018 Anchorage earthquake
• 1965 Rat Islands earthquake
• List of megathrust earthquakes
• 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
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...