Two earthquakes hit Anchorage, Alaska on Friday morning, November 30th. A tsunami warning was issued, causing residents of an oceanside town, Kodiak to quickly take evacuation procedures.
The first earthquake, the larger one, was a 7.0 and struck about seven miles from north of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. The second earthquake was a 5.7 and hit several minutes later. It was soon followed by several aftershocks.
Roads Were Destroyed
Several roads and parts of roads have been destroyed or swallowed up by the earthquakes. Parts of the road near the Anchorage airport collapsed during the quake. Flights were halted at the airport after telephone poles collapsed and the control tower had to be evacuated.
A school was let out early, but some buses couldn’t get far from the school due to large cracks in bridges.
Anchorage Police Chief Justin Doll said he had been told that parts of the Glenn Highway, a scenic route that runs northeast out of the city past farms, mountains and glaciers, had “completely disappeared.” [1]
A Tsunami Warning
A tsunami warning was issued along Alaska’s southern coast, specifically to the people of Kodiak, which has a population of 6,100 people. After the earthquake, the tsunami was calculated to hit within ten minutes. Later it was shown that quake had not made large waves in the ocean and there was no threat of a tsunami.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake just occurred near Anchorage. Please note there is NO Tsunami danger with this earthquake. Please stay tuned for any updates. #AKwx #Anchorage #Alaskaearthquake
— NWS Anchorage (@NWSAnchorage) November 30, 2018
Governor Bill Walker Checks it Out
The Alaskan Governor, Bill Walker, expressed his condolences to families impacted by the earthquakes before taking off with the National Guard to survey the damage caused.
(1/2) After a major earthquake, I have issued a declaration of disaster & I have been in direct contact with the White House. Major General Laurie Hummel & I are now working w emergency responders to make sure Alaskans are safe.
— Governor Bill Walker (@AkGovBillWalker) November 30, 2018
(2/2) From the incident command center established at Joint Base Elmendorf and Richardson we are closely monitoring reports of aftershocks and assessing damage to roads, bridges and buildings.
My family is praying for yours. God bless Alaska.
— Governor Bill Walker (@AkGovBillWalker) November 30, 2018
