GET READY – GREAT ALASKA SHAKEOUT DRILL IS JUST AHEAD
Alaska had more than 55,000 earthquakes in 2018, and this year the state has already experienced nearly 36,900 earthquakes and aftershocks.
At this rate, the total by the end of the year will be around 49,000, which will put this year into second place for Alaska temblors.
The high number of earthquakes was due to aftershocks sequences and “earthquake swarms,” as well as improved earthquake monitoring, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center’s US Array project.
Southcentral 7.1 earthquake of Nov. 30, 2018
The Alaska Earthquake Center expects aftershocks from the Nov. 30 earthquake to last about two-and-a-half years, until June of 2021.
The rate of aftershocks has decreased dramatically, however. The center recorded 10,200 aftershocks through August, but 7,000 of them had struck in the first month after the earthquake.
Since May, just three aftershocks of Magnitude 4 or greater have occurred, and unlike earlier in the year, the magnitude 4 shakers are spread out by weeks instead of days or hours, the center reports.
People in Southcentral should expect to feel more aftershocks, but only infrequently.
A half dozen Anchorage aftershocks are occurring daily, but most are too weak to feel, some smaller than Magnitude 1.
GREAT ALASKA SHAKEOUT
Alaska, the state that accounts for 57 percent of all earthquakes in the United States, will take part in the Great Alaska Shakeout exercise on Oct. 17. Alaskans from all over the state, including schools and government offices, will be taking part in the nationwide exercise.
At 10:17 am on that day, participants will practice how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On during Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills.
Register for the 2019 Great Alaska ShakeOut at this link and make sure your family or organization is ready for the next big quake by assessing your emergency plans and practicing the Drop, Cover, and Hold On exercise.