On Good Friday, March 27, 1964, the largest earthquake ever to hit
North America struck Alaska.
The magnitude of this quake measured 8.4 - 8.6 on the Richter Scale and
was reported as a 9.2 Moment Magnitude (Mw).  The epicenter of this
awesome quake was a mere 45 miles west of Valdez and 14 miles under the
earth's crust.

Not to be lost in this is the fact that Valdez, AK was nestled at the
head of a long Fijord which was to become the Alaska Pipeline Terminus
in the future. The wave generated by the quake drove up through that
narrow channel into the town, rising higher and higher as the channel
narrowed. It virtually wiped out the town.

It should be noted that along the mountains in Southeast Alaska is tidal
wave evidence as high as 2,000 feet up the sides of the mountains,
mountains that rise almost directly out of the ocean, with a very narrow
little strip of relatively flat land between mountain and water's edge.

Another note - Memphis, Tennessee sits ove a big fault line where in the
1800's one of the biggest earthquakes ever in North America took place.
It caused the Mississippi river to run backwards, and created the
Reelfoot Lake area which is now a major fishing and wildlife refuge.

There is no such thing as over reaction for earthquakes and tidal waves
(tsunami's).

John

John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com

On 3/11/2011 1:27 PM, Michael Hart wrote:
> Not to trivialise the impact of the tsunami on Japan, but a bit of an
> over-reaction perhaps here on the left coast??
> - Driving over Highway 17 from Silicon Valley to Santa Cruz early this morning,
> hundreds of cars parked at the summit - people escaping the coastal areas.
> Definitely in a safe location here at 2000 ft elevation..... Vanagon content:
> heading to Santa Cruz to pick up my Westy after routine servicing&  big brake
> install - the usual premium treatment from Peter&  the staff at Volkscafe (&  no
> more deep rattle in the rear suspension - hoorah!)
> Mike
> '87 Westy
>
>