III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 400 

Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Great Alaska Earthquake, which 

struck the State of Alaska at 5:36 p.m. on Good Friday, March 27, 

1964, honoring those who lost their lives in the Great Alaska Earthquake 

and associated tsunamis, and expressing continued support for research 

on earthquake and tsunami prediction and mitigation strategies. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 27, 2014 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. BEGICH, 

Mr. SCHATZ, and Mr. WYDEN) submitted the following resolution; which 

was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Great Alaska Earthquake, which struck the State of Alaska at 5:36 p.m. 

on Good Friday, March 27, 1964, honoring those who 

lost their lives in the Great Alaska Earthquake and 

associated tsunamis, and expressing continued support 

for research on earthquake and tsunami prediction and 

mitigation strategies. 

Whereas on Good Friday, March 27, 1964, the Great Alaska 

Earthquake struck the State of Alaska; 

Whereas the Great Alaska Earthquake measured 9.2 on the 

moment magnitude scale, making it the largest recorded 


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•SRES 400 ATS 

earthquake in United States history and the second-largest earthquake ever recorded using modern instruments; 

Whereas the Great Alaska Earthquake was felt as far away 

as Seattle and was registered by water-level recorders in 

47 States; 

Whereas the Great Alaska Earthquake spawned tsunamis 

that devastated communities in Alaska and impacted the 

States of Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii, as 

well as Canada and Japan; 

Whereas the Great Alaska Earthquake and associated 

tsunamis resulted in 131 fatalities, including 4 fatalities 

in Oregon and 12 fatalities in California, and an estimated $3,750,000,000 in property losses in today’s dollars; 

Whereas the wealth of data collected during the Great Alaska 

Earthquake led to major breakthroughs in the scientific 

understanding of subduction zone earthquakes and earthquake hazards, resulting in improved earthquake mitigation strategies; 

Whereas the study of the tsunamis associated with the Great 

Alaska Earthquake resulted in improved tsunami prediction and warning capabilities; and 

Whereas the Great Alaska Earthquake spurred the United 

States Geological Survey, in cooperation with earthquakeimpacted States, to install extensive earthquake monitoring networks across the United States and establish 

the National Center for Earthquake Research: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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•SRES 400 ATS 

1 (1) mourns the lives lost due to the Great Alas2 ka Earthquake and associated tsunamis that oc3 curred on Good Friday, March 27, 1964; 

4 (2) recognizes the improved understanding of 

5 earthquakes and tsunamis and the scientific and 

6 technological advancements that resulted from the 

7 study of data collected during the Great Alaska 

8 Earthquake; 

9 (3) commends the efforts of scientists and engi10 neers from the United States Geological Survey, as 

11 well as those in Alaska, California, and other earth12 quake-impacted States, to improve earthquake and 

13 tsunami prediction and hazard mitigation strategies 

14 and protect the well-being of United States citizens 

15 threatened by these hazards; 

16 (4) supports continued research, education, and 

17 outreach about earthquakes and other natural haz18 ards; and 

19 (5) encourages participation in the Great Alas20 ka ShakeOut earthquake drill scheduled to occur on 

21 March 27, 2014. 

Æ 


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