What was the worst earthquake in the history of the US?

bmrsnr

Looks like March 28, 1964 saw a 9.2 magnitude earthquake at Prince William Sound in Alaska that claimed 128 lives. On the list found at: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/historical.php/ That was the high in both magnitude and fatalities recorded. Jul 07 09, 10:49 PM

star_gazer

In 1811, in Missouri, there was a massive earthquake more that twice as large in land area as the 1964 Alaskan quake. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/events/1811-1812.php#december_16 Jul 07 09, 10:53 PM

bmrsnr

Additionally, the National Earthquake Information Center estimates that approximately 311 million dollars in damage was caused. Thus, in terms of damage caused, this would be well behind the 1989 earthquake that shook the San Francisco Bay area and caused 6 billion dollars in damage. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/events/1989_10_18.php Jul 07 09, 10:54 PM

zbeckabee

Based on fatalities alone: The worst earthquake on US soil took place on April 18, 1906 in San Francisco. The earthquake was accompanied by fires over four square miles. No one knows the exact number, but it is estimated that between 700 and 3000 people were either killed or missing during these earthquakes and fires.At almost precisely 5:12 a.m., local time, a foreshock occurred with sufficient force to be felt widely throughout the San Francisco Bay area. The great earthquake broke loose some 20 to 25 seconds later, with an epicentre near San Francisco. Violent shocks punctuated the strong shaking which lasted some 45 to 60 seconds. The earthquake was felt from southern Oregon to south of Los Angeles and inland as far as central Nevada. At almost precisely 5:12 a.m., local time, a foreshock occurred with sufficient force to be felt widely throughout the San Francisco Bay area. The great earthquake broke loose some 20 to 25 seconds later, with an epicentre near San Francisco. Violent shocks punctuated the strong shaking which lasted some 45 to 60 seconds. The earthquake was felt from southern Oregon to south of Los Angeles and inland as far as central Nevada. http://www.blurtit.com/q337183.html http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/us_deaths.php Jul 08 09, 6:29 AM