Why you need to prepare for the next earthquake

	Fourth Avenue in Anchorage after the 1964 earthquake.

The second-largest earthquake ever recorded shook the heart of southern Alaska on March 27, 1964. Scientists have long recognized that Alaska is one of the most seismically active areas of the world. In fact, three of the six largest earthquakes of this century were located in Alaska, and "great" earthquakes (larger than magnitude 8) have rocked the state on an average of every 13 years since 1900.

Most of these large earthquakes have been located far from heavily populated areas. However, it is only a matter of time before another earthquake affects many Alaskans.

It does not necessarily take a major earthquake to inflict hardship. For example, the January 1994 earthquake in southern California was almost a thousand times weaker than the 1964 Alaskan earthquake, but caused billions of dollars in damage and claimed many lives because of its proximity to a populated area.

Alaska has changed significantly in the last thirty years, and the population has more than doubled. Many new buildings have been designed to withstand intense shaking, some older buildings have been reinforced, and development has commonly been discouraged in particularly hazardous areas. Despite these precautions, future earthquakes may still cause damage to buildings, displace items within buildings, and disrupt basic utilities that we take for granted.

Fortunately, we can prepare for earthquakes. By identifying the greatest hazards, we can set priorities for using our resources most effectively to reduce damage. By becoming aware of the hazards posed by earthquakes and by taking actions, such as those described on this Web site, we can drastically reduce the loss of life and property, and make Alaska a safer place to live. . . . The choice is ours.