Alaskan earthquakes
Saturday, December 1, 2018
[Quick Personal Takeaway]: Always be prepared for the unexpected. Have extra funds on hand should some act of nature cause destruction. Be prepared for floods, tornadoes, earthquakes and fires. Have an essentials bug-out bag also for when you need to grab and go.
On Friday, November 30, 2018 there were over 200 tiny earthquakes that ripped through several parts of Alaska in the magnitude of a 7.0 scale. Roads were demolished and buildings imploded. The governor issued a disaster declaration and there were also initial tsunami warnings but they have been cancelled.
It was one of the biggest earthquakes in the region in over several decades and the shock waves reverberated for several miles. Stores had their merchandise tumble with several thousand dollars of damage. The epicenter of all these quakes was Anchorage, Alaska. Though there were not said to be any major injuries or anything more severe on initial reporting, the damage is still being assessed.
There may be more aftershocks in days and weeks to come because of all the geological and landscape effects due to the tremors. Most people buckled down and hit the floor as soon as they felt something was off. A state seismologist said that the 7.0 readings were readable even around 300 to 400 miles outside of the city.
Several hospitals and police were in the process of helping. Anchorage is one of the largest cities in the state of Alaska with at least 100 to 300 thousand people in the vicinity. The aftershocks registered between 4.0 and 5.0. One was reported to have a 5.7 to 5.8 magnitude. Several places were without power and with Anchorage being a central location for a lot of businesses it has disrupted air and land travel. Anchorage International Airport had some stopped flights and delays but was able to resume some of its flights. Many places were also without water or telecommunications or elevator and electronic service. Many schools and colleges also had to be closed and canceled with only essential employees reporting to duty. Those that do have water are said to make sure to take proper water precautions including boiling to ensure drinking safety. Several shelters have also been open for those needing a place to sleep.
The Trans Alaska Pipeline System was also shut down to see if any damage was done or additional gas leaks.
If you check historical records there was an even greater earthquake of 9.2 in March 27 of 1964 also known as the Great Alaska Earthquake or Good Friday earthquake which was the second largest ever measured earthquake worldwide. That one caused over 100 deaths and lasted 4 minutes and 38 seconds. That earthquake created an estimate of about $116 or so million dollars of property damage.
Alaska sits in one of the areas nicknamed “The Ring of Fire” which has volcanoes and earthquakes and shifting land masses that is in the Pacific ocean.
Luckily a lot of the region has prepared for these quakes and made their buildings able to withstand these shakes. In a few places fires had hit.
The earthquake was said to have started around 8:29am Alaska time or 12:29am Eastern time. Alaska is said to get around seven or eight of these types of earthquake every year or so.
