#Laura Kong
New tsunami video gives insights, answers on how to prepare
This year marks 79 years since the deadly 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake which generated tsunami waves that reached more than 50 feet in areas across the state.
April is a reminder for tsunami vigilance: emergency managers, survivor recount deadly event 78 years ago
“April 1—April Fool’s Day—78 years ago a magnitude 8.6 earthquake from the Aleutian Islands generated a tsunami that took about four-and-a-half hours to hit our state,” said Laura Kong, Ph.D., director of International Tsunami Information Center. “By 6:30 a.m., waves that would reach 53 feet on the Big Island, 33 feet on Maui, 54 feet on Molokaʻi, 35 feet on Oʻahu and 45 feet on Kauaʻi, began to arrive.” The event resulted in $340 million in damage and the loss of nearly 159 people in the state, 96 in Hilo.