Anchorage in Tsunami-Free Zone

Alaska is testing its tsunami warning system this week, and officials say they’re using the event to remind Anchorage residents they don’t have to worry.

Kattaryna Stiles is acting director of the Anchorage Office of Emergency Management. She says it’s important to know that a tsunami is not a threat to Anchorage.

The city’s location keeps it safe from the devastating sea surges that destroyed several communities in southcentral Alaska during the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake, she indicated.

The 1964 quake registered at magnitude 9.2, the second-largest earthquake ever recorded in the world.

City officials say it did not generate a tsunami in Anchorage because of natural geographic boundaries in Cook Inlet.

Latest Comments

• March 27, 2008 at 11:34 am

  Jeff says:

  I didn't say that their was no threat to Alaska (or anchorage specifically) Kattaryna Stiles the acting director of emergency operations did. Second, why should Alaska get ver... read more
• March 26, 2008 at 3:53 am

  Cori says:

  First of all, how do you know the tax payer's money belongs to you or anyone outside of Alaska? Since statehood we have had to pay our own way on just about everything getting... read more
• March 26, 2008 at 12:53 pm

  Jeff says:

  Since Anchorage is apparently in no danger from a tsunami, it might be a wise precaution to go ahead and spend the taxpayer's money on an early warning system in the midwest.