Governor Bill Walker has proclaimed Friday, March 27, as “1964 Alaskan Earthquake Remembrance Day”.
All state flags will be lowered to half mast tomorrow to honor the lives lost that day.
In his inaugural address the governor shared his personal experience.
Gov. Walker: “A few short years later, on a spring day in 1964, the ground trembled, opened up and nearly swallowed our town. It did swallow all of our new building materials sitting on the dock and most of our other possessions. Valdez over 30 people in the 1964 Earthquake; mostly children. Among them, my friends. I was 12 years old.”
Alaska’s 1964 Good Friday Earthquake is the second largest earthquake recorded in history and generated tsunamis which reached California and Oregon.
Seward was also hit with tsunami triggered by large pieces of land sloughing into Resurrection Bay and across Alaska over 130 people died.
State flags will be returned to full-staff on Saturday.
For the governor’s full proclamation, click here.