9.2 Earthquake in the United States. In 1964. For real.
I just watched a TV special about a 9.2 Earthquake in the United States (twice the magnitude of the San Francisco quake) within my parents’ lifetimes. How the hell have I never heard of this? More here.
Over 10,000 aftershocks were recorded following the main shock. In the first day alone, eleven aftershocks were recorded with a magnitude greater than 6.0. An additional nine more occurred over the next three weeks. It was not until eighteen months later that the aftershocks were no longer a danger.
Some portions of earth moved 400 meters (!!).
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November 6th, 2007 at 7:05 am
I recall this being in my high school US history textbook.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:11 am
I heard about this in a couple of my geology courses in college and in one of my classes in high school. I think what shocked me then even more than the sheer magnitude of it was how long it lasted. Think about all the 6+ magnitude quakes you experienced and how long they lasted. Now think of something much more powerful lasting for MINUTES! I think I would honestly have a heart attack.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I’m a little bit surprised that you’d never heard of it before; it’s fairly well-known. I first heard about it when I was first learning about tsunamis, as the tsunami resulting from the quake was a substantial one with lots of English-speaking survivors (thus making it ideal for use in grade-school documentaries).
November 6th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
OK, then I guess “how have I never heard of this” is a very valid question…
November 6th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Well, you know, maybe if you had bothered to graduate from high school…
November 8th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
I started this once before, but don’t think I sent it….
I don’t remember the earthquake…I remember the tsunami that followed.
My dad had a little 27′ cabin cruiser docked at a local marina. When he heard the tsunami was coming he headed out into the Pacific as fast as he could. When he encountered the tsunami in open water it was just a significant swell. Once it went under him he turned and followed it back to land.
The marina he had been at was totally destroyed, lots of boats lost/sunk. My dad’s was one of the few that were spared.
A funny aside to the new marina my dad found…my dad assured my mom that it was “Howard proof” (your uncle). Even Howard would be safe. First time Howard was there…splash! My dad had to fish him out of the drink.
Back to the tsunami…I also had a friend who was part owner of a hotel in Eureka, CA. It was totally destroyed by the wave.
November 9th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
I read. I thought. In a distant part of my brain I have vague memories of being at a tourist attraction somewhere in California and reading about this. I remember being astonished, as you are, that I had never heard. And baffled. Why could I not remember? It has finlly registered. I was living in Ohio at the time, without tv. Explains a lot.
November 11th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
OK, let’s go with that. I’ve been living without a television in Ohio for my whole life.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:52 am