9.2 Kodiak and the World's Second-Largest Earthquake

First came the shaking, then came the waves. By the time the disaster ended, the world's second-largest earthquake was an afterthought. On March 27, 1964, Kodiak Island was hit by the largest disaster in its history. Nineteen people died across the Kodiak archipelago. One hundred and thirty-one died in Alaska, Oregon and California. Downtown Kodiak was destroyed. Fishing boats were thrown ashore, settling next to the elementary school or atop houses and stores. The villages of Kaguyak, Afognak and Old Harbor were wiped out. Old Harbor rebuilt - Kaguyak and Afognak never did. In these pages, we share the story of the day 50 years ago that changed the lives of everyone who lived through it. The Marines and Seabees helped Kodiak recover and rebuild, but memories last, and islanders wait for the next time the ground shakes.