Remembering 1964 – Alaska’s Deadliest Tsunami

March 27, 1964, is a date forever etched in Alaska’s history. On that Good Friday evening, a massive magnitude 9.2 earthquake—the strongest ever recorded in North America—struck Prince William Sound. But the shaking wasn’t the only danger. What followed was a series of deadly tsunamis that swept through coastal communities, destroying homes, ports, and lives.

In places like Valdez, Seward, and Kodiak, the destruction was total. Some waves reached over 30 feet in height. Others traveled thousands of miles, affecting the U.S. West Coast and even Japan. In total, the tsunami caused more deaths than the quake itself.

This event was a wake-up call for the nation. It led to the creation of the National Tsunami Warning Center, located in Palmer, Alaska, which now monitors tsunami threats around the Pacific.