Earthquakes Strike Alaska
Earlier this week on Friday December 6th, local time, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Anchorage, Alaska. Just over 230 small earthquakes hit shortly after the larger quake, which left residents in some areas without power. Power outages were one of the more minor results of the earthquakes, as roads were split apart and buildings buckled.
With the heavy snow and miles of wilderness that the last frontier state is notorious for, most locals would agree that roadways play an important role in people’s lives in Alaska. And with a population of around 300,000, the people of Anchorage rely on their roadways for their survival. Anchorage is the largest city in the state of Alaska, and because roads there are the main method of travel, road repair crews have been working nonstop to restore them.
The 7.0 magnitude quake was the second largest to hit Alaska since 1964. The 9.2 magnitude earthquake that hit in 1964 was the strongest ever recorded in the United States. The earthquake was followed by a fatal tsunami that changed the lives of Alaskans for good. From that point on, the people of Alaska began to devise plans of action to take in the event of future earthquakes. From recovery plans to earthquake preparation drills, the people of Alaska feel that preparation is key to their safety.
Despite the damage, locals have adjusted relatively quickly, with the power already back in some areas. No deaths nor significant injuries have been reported, and the people of Alaska are doing everything in their power to return to normal. Unfortunately, in terms of infrastructure, the people of Alaska have a long way to go. Interestingly, many locals reported to CNN that the strength of the earthquake came as quite a shock to them, describing the incident as ‘scary.’
Seismologists predict that the series of earthquakes that hit Alaska will not be over anytime soon, considering that Alaska’s location makes it more prone to earthquakes. Fortunately, a majority of the smaller earthquakes will be too weak for most people to take notice of.
If you want to learn more about the earthquakes that hit Alaska, click the links below: