The Day Alaska Shook

Thirteen-year-old Tom Gilson had been through many earthquakes. It was just part of life growing up in Valdez (val-DEEZ), Alaska. 

Every few months, the ground under Tom’s feet would tremble. Dishes would rattle on the shelves. But Tom never worried. The quakes were short. Then came March 27, 1964. 

At 5:36 p.m., the ground in southern Alaska began to shake. This time, it didn’t stop. The land cracked. Cliffsides crashed into the sea. Giant waves smashed into villages. 

Tom was caught in the middle of the most powerful quake to ever strike the United States. But he didn’t know that.

All Tom was thinking was that the world was ending.

Tom Gilson was 13 years old. He had been through many earthquakes. It was part of life growing up in Valdez (val-DEEZ), Alaska. 

Sometimes the ground under Tom’s feet would tremble. Dishes would shake on the shelves. But Tom never worried. The quakes were short. Then came March 27, 1964. 

At 5:36 p.m., the ground in southern Alaska began to shake. This time, it didn’t stop. The land cracked. Parts of cliffs crashed into the sea. Giant waves hit villages. 

Tom was caught in the most powerful quake ever to hit the United States. But he didn’t know that.

Tom was thinking that the world was ending.

Tom Gilson was 13 years old. He lived in Valdez (val-DEEZ), Alaska. Tom had been through many earthquakes. But they were usually short. He never worried about them. Then came March 27, 1964.

At 5:36 p.m., the ground began to shake. It didn’t stop. The land cracked open. Tom thought the world was ending!

Alaska had become a state just five years before, in 1959. It was the biggest state in the U.S. Most of Alaska was (and still is) wilderness. Tiny villages and towns were spread out across the land. 

The town of Valdez was isolated. Half a mile outside of town, Tom was more likely to see a bear than a human. Near the water, he might spot whales flicking their tails. There was no bowling alley or dentist. Still, Tom loved his town. 

That morning, the sky was gray but Tom’s mood was bright. There was no sign of a coming disaster. It was a holiday and Tom didn’t have school. His day off from school was going to be extra fun. Later that day, a big ship—the Chena—would be arriving in Valdez. The ship’s crew often handed out candy to kids on the dock. 

Tom never could have imagined what was to come.

Alaska had just become a state five years before, in 1959. It was the biggest state in the U.S. Most of Alaska was wilderness. Tiny villages and towns were spread out across the land. 

The town of Valdez was isolated. It wasn’t near much. Outside of town, Tom was more likely to see a bear than a human. Near the water, he might see whales swimming. There was no bowling alley or dentist. Still, Tom loved his town. 

That morning, the sky was gray. But Tom’s mood was bright. There was no sign of a coming quake. It was a holiday. Tom didn’t have school. His day off was going to be extra fun. A big ship was arriving in Valdez. It was called the Chena. The ship’s crew often gave candy to kids on the dock. 

Tom never could have imagined what was to come.

Alaska became a state in 1959. Most of the state was wild. Valdez was isolated. It wasn’t near other towns or people. Tom often saw bears and whales near town. 

That morning, a big ship was coming to Valdez. It was called the Chena. The ship’s crew usually gave candy to kids. Tom was excited. He had no idea a giant earthquake was coming.

Earthquakes can be very destructive. When earthquakes happen under an ocean, they can cause huge waves. The waves are called tsunamis (soo-NAH-meez). They can be extremely fast. 

Earthquakes are caused by movements. The movements are deep underground. But in 1964, scientists didn’t know much about quakes. Many might have told you a big quake wouldn’t happen in Alaska. 

They would have been wrong. 

Few forces in nature are as destructive as a strong earthquake. Most big quakes last between 10 and 30 seconds. The strongest ones can last for several minutes.

When earthquakes happen under an ocean, they often cause huge waves called tsunamis (soo-NAH-meez). These waves can move at 400 miles an hour—twice as fast as a race car. Some are taller than 100 feet!

Today we know earthquakes are caused by movements deep underground. But in 1964, scientists struggled to understand them. Take Alaska, for example. Everyone knew the state could have quakes. But most scientists probably would have told you a big quake wouldn’t happen there. 

They would have been wrong.

A strong earthquake can be more destructive than most forces of nature. Most big quakes last between 10 and 30 seconds. The strongest ones can last for a few minutes.

When earthquakes happen under an ocean, they can cause huge waves. The waves are called tsunamis (soo-NAH-meez). They can move at 400 miles an hour. That’s twice as fast as a race car. Some waves are taller than 100 feet!

Today we know earthquakes are caused by movements deep underground. But in 1964, scientists didn’t fully understand them. Take Alaska, for example. Scientists knew the state could have quakes. But most of them probably would have told you a big quake wouldn’t happen there. 

They would have been wrong.

At about 5:30 p.m., Tom and his friends drove to the water. They stopped to talk to a friend. Then the car started to bounce. 

Something was happening miles away. Something powerful. Deep below the Pacific Ocean, the earth moved. The land across southern Alaska shook fiercely. 

The ground rose and fell. It split apart. Then came a scary moment. It was worse than any nightmare. Parts of Valdez fell into the sea. Docks, buildings, and people disappeared.

The shaking stopped after about four-and-a-half minutes. But the nightmare continued. Soon tsunamis crashed into Valdez. The damage was huge. People tried to rescue others from under cars or buildings. In the end, 115 people died. 

And Valdez was still in trouble. Scientists studied the event. They realized Valdez had been built on soft land. The scientists warned that Valdez was still in danger. Another damaging quake could happen again.

The people of Valdez came up with a plan. They rebuilt the town 4 miles away. The ground was safer there. Today Valdez is a busy town. It has restaurants and a hospital. It has a museum showing the town’s history. 

Tom Gilson still lives there. He and his family helped rebuild Valdez. He knows he was lucky. He lived through the most powerful earthquake in U.S. history. 

Tom spent his free day driving around with his friends. His friend Ed had a brand-new car! At about 5:30 p.m., they decided to go down by the water. The Chena had arrived. None of the boys wanted to miss out on the candy. As they drove toward the docks, Tom saw a ship and a crowd of people. They stopped the car to talk to a friend.

That’s when the car started to bounce up and down. 

At first, Tom thought somebody was jumping on the car’s bumper. But something was happening about 56 miles away. Something powerful.

Deep below the Pacific Ocean, the earth had suddenly moved. The land all across southern Alaska shook fiercely. 

“It’s an earthquake!” screamed Ed. 

The ground rose and fell and split apart. The Chena tossed and turned like a toy in a bathtub. 

The boys got out of the car. But the street around them had broken apart.

“We’re trapped!” Tom yelled. 

The shaking grew stronger. Then came a moment worse than any nightmare. Tom watched the Valdez waterfront crumble into the sea. Docks, buildings, and people disappeared.

This is the end of the world, Tom thought.

Tom spent his free day with friends. They drove around town. His friend Ed had a new car! At about 5:30 p.m., they went down by the water. 

The Chena had arrived. None of the boys wanted to miss the candy. Tom saw a ship and a crowd of people. They stopped the car to talk to a friend.

That’s when the car started to bounce up and down. 

At first, Tom thought somebody was jumping on the car’s bumper. But something was happening about 56 miles away. Something powerful.

Deep below the Pacific Ocean, the earth moved. It happened very suddenly. The land all across southern Alaska shook fiercely. 

“It’s an earthquake!” screamed Ed. 

The ground rose and fell. It split apart. The Chena tossed and turned. It was like a toy in a bathtub. 

The boys got out of the car. But the street around them had split apart.

“We’re trapped!” Tom yelled. 

The shaking grew stronger. Then came a scary moment. It was worse than any nightmare. Tom watched the Valdez waterfront crumble into the sea. Docks, buildings, and people disappeared.

This is the end of the world, Tom thought.

Finally, after about four-and-a-half horrible minutes, the shaking stopped.

But the terror continued. 

Soon tsunamis began crashing into Valdez and other towns. They pushed boats and debris into the streets. Oil and gas tanks exploded, causing fires that burned for days. 

The damage was enormous. Across Alaska, mountains had caved in. Monster waves had drowned forests. People worked to free others from collapsed buildings and crushed cars. 

In the end, 115 people died in Alaska. Valdez was especially hard hit. Thirty-two people died there. And soon came another shock: Valdez remained in serious danger. 

Scientists came to town after the quake. They studied the event. It turned out most of Valdez had been built on soft land. When the shaking started, the ground melted away. That’s why the waterfront crumbled into the sea. 

And it could happen again one day, experts warned.

The horrible shaking lasted about four-and-a-half minutes. Then it finally stopped.

But the nightmare continued. 

Soon tsunamis crashed into Valdez and other towns. They pushed boats and debris into the streets. Oil and gas tanks exploded. This caused fires that burned for days. 

The damage was huge. Across Alaska, mountains had caved in. Giant waves had filled forests with water. People worked to free others from collapsed buildings and crushed cars. 

In the end, 115 people died in Alaska. Valdez was especially hard hit. Thirty-two people died there. And soon came another piece of bad news. Valdez was still in danger. 

Scientists came to town after the quake. They studied the event. It turned out most of Valdez had been built on soft land. When the shaking started, the ground melted away. That’s why the waterfront fell into the sea. 

And experts had a warning. It could happen again one day.

The people of Valdez weren’t ready to give up. They came up with a plan to rebuild the town 4 miles down the coast. The ground was more solid and safer there. If another quake happened, it would likely be less destructive. Within two years, a new Valdez was born. 

Today Valdez is a bustling town. It has restaurants, a hospital, and a museum celebrating the town’s history. Some say it’s the most beautiful town in all of Alaska.

If you are lucky enough to travel there, you might meet Tom Gilson. After the shaking stopped, Tom made his way home. His family was safe. They helped rebuild Valdez in its new spot.

Tom is in his 70s now. He knows he was lucky to have survived the most powerful earthquake in U.S. history.

“Not a day goes by when I don’t think about the earthquake,” he says. 

The people of Valdez weren’t ready to give up. They came up with a plan. They would rebuild the town 4 miles down the coast. The ground was more solid and safer there. If another quake happened, it might be less destructive. It took two years. Then a new Valdez was born. 

Today Valdez is a busy town. It has restaurants and a hospital. It has a museum showing the town’s history. Some say it’s the most beautiful town in all of Alaska.

If you are lucky enough to go there, you might meet Tom Gilson. After the shaking stopped, Tom went home. His family was safe. They helped rebuild Valdez in its new spot.

Tom is in his 70s now. He knows he was lucky. He lived through the most powerful earthquake in U.S. history.

“Not a day goes by when I don’t think about the earthquake,” he says.