The 1964 earthquake devastated much Alaska. The shock wave traveling at over 500 miles an hour spread in a circular formation from just south of Valdez. This was so powerful that it could be felt as far away as Cape Kennedy, California. The tidal waves were felt as far away as Japan and Hawaii, but these waves did no real damage. The only place that had any real damage besides Alaska was the coast of California where people who were not so smart went down to the beach to see the water go out. Little did they know that that water would come crashing back in, in a 30- to 50-foot wave, depending where you were. There were only a few deaths, though. Some of the water power was so powerful it could drive a 2 by 4 through a concrete block. What I thought was an interesting thing is that people in Idaho and Utah had a problem with water in their swimming pools splashing over the side and flooding lawns.
Here are some accounts from people who felt the affects of the 1964 earthquake in Alaska, and mostly Anchorage. This is one man's diary entry form Saturday, March 28th. This entry was written by Sewell (Stumpy) Faulkner:
"Yesterday, Good Friday, tremendous earthquake 5:36 p.m. I was behind the house with Brad, took almost 4 minutes to walk around to front door to evacuate Baby , Pat & Jonathan. Brad was out with me. Ground shaking so bad I fell and stumbled. Got inside, grabbed the baby, pushed the others out into car, every thing inside house a mess. Books, lamps, pictures . . . everything on floor, but basically okay.
June was downtown with Sam. Home 15 minutes after quake. They were in car in front of N.C. Company. . . windows caved in, people came out, then linked arms to support each other. She detoured home . . . saw the MLS office on 5th Avenue near K Street sunk roof exposed. She parked car near 11th & S after going over several 1" to 1' crevices."
At this point, I don't know where to start to summarize in diary. Here are the points . . . not necessarily in order of importance, but I'll try:
1. Thank God we're alive. We, like most, can say "If I'd only done this." I left the office only 20 minutes before the quake, decided to wait 'til Saturday to get Easter Bunny things from J.C. Penny's (total loss) . . . not many other places she could have been. We're lucky , compared to many.
2. Its still to early to realize what happened (This is over 50 hours later). Too early to size up, too early to know what will happen. It's so bad that we have to keep a sense of humor. Hundreds of my friends are, on paper, bankrupt. Milt Odor estimates his loss at 1 million . . . this down to Norm Grant who is mortgaged to the eyeballs . . . his 6th and K new building is now settled along with their 7th and L lot (both properties I sold them). So many have had so much damage that that they can only crack jokes.
3. Maybe about 15 are killed in Anchorage. Dr. Perry Meade lost two kids in his house over the bluff.