Great Alaska Earthquake Movie "Though the Earth Be Moved" 87354 (1964)

Synopsis

THOUGH THE EARTH BE MOVED tells the story of the 1964 Alaskan earthquake, also known as the Great Alaskan earthquake and Good Friday earthquake, that occurred at 5:36 P.M. AST on Good Friday, March 27. Across south-central Alaska, ground fissures, collapsing structures, and tsunamis resulting from the earthquake caused about 139 deaths. The film primarily chronicles the first 72 hours after the 1964 Alaska Earthquake and the response to the disaster by the United States Office of Civil Defense, U.S. Military, and local, state, and federal officials, both civilian and military. Includes extensive archival footage of the earthquake and aftermath. Lasting four minutes and thirty-eight seconds, the magnitude 9.2 megathrust earthquake was the most powerful recorded in North American history, and the second most powerful recorded in world history. Soil liquefaction, fissures, landslides, and other ground failures caused major structural damage in several communities and much damage to property. Anchorage sustained great destruction or damage to many inadequately earthquake engineered houses, buildings, and infrastructure (paved streets, sidewalks, water and sewer mains, electrical systems, and other man-made equipment), particularly in the several landslide zones along Knik Arm. Two hundred miles southwest, some areas near Kodiak were permanently raised by 30 feet (9.1 m). Southeast of Anchorage, areas around the head of Turnagain Arm near Girdwood and Portage dropped as much as 8…

Uploader's description on archive.org

Details

Running time

45 minutes

Language

English

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage