TSUNAMIS

Violent waves wreaked havoc along the shores of south-east Alaska and the Pacific shores from British Columbia to California; they also accounted for more than half the lives taken during the event. Had the coast been more heavily populated or had the quake struck at high tide, damage would have been more extensive than it was. Local waves were generated along the coast and struck during or immediately after the quake. Seismic sea waves or tsunamis, comprised a train of long period waves that spread rapidly over the entire Pacific Ocean, after the shaking had subsided. All nearby tide gages were destroyed or rendered useless by the earthquake.