Ralph Alley and his housemate Dan were about to begin their weekly workout regimen when they were interrupted by the mightiest earthquake ever to hit North America. The State of Alaska, City of Anchorage and the lives of all inhabitants would never be the same again. Ralph provides a firsthand report about what it was like, during and after this insane event.

This video goes into a lot of detail of the effects of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami on Kodiak. Valdez, Cordova, Seward and other coastal towns had similar chaos and damage — in some cases worse than seen here [difficult to imagine!].

The Hillside Apartments, 16th Ave. and G Street. Ralph and his friends walked over here and helped residents retrieve cats, dogs and belongings from the apartments. This is the north side and on the south side the damage to parts of the building w… — The Hillside Apartments, 16th Ave. and G Street. Ralph and his friends walked over here and helped residents retrieve cats, dogs and belongings from the apartments. This is the north side and on the south side the damage to parts of the building was more extreme. Photo from Judith and Malcolm McDonald papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Damage in the Turnagain neighorhood was extensive, with 75 houses completely destroyed. Some that remained intact ended up being moved to other places in Anchorage with better underlying soil conditions. There were few deaths in the earthquake but… — Damage in the Turnagain neighorhood was extensive, with 75 houses completely destroyed. Some that remained intact ended up being moved to other places in Anchorage with better underlying soil conditions. There were few deaths in the earthquake but some of them were here in Turnagain. Photo from Ward Wells Collection, Anchorage Museum.

A two or three long section of the north side of the city’s main street, 4th Avenue sunk between 10 and 20 feet, buckling buildings, streets and sidewalks. The south side of the street [on top of the hill] was mostly OK and some of the buildings ar… — A two or three long section of the north side of the city’s main street, 4th Avenue sunk between 10 and 20 feet, buckling buildings, streets and sidewalks. The south side of the street [on top of the hill] was mostly OK and some of the buildings are still there today. New buildings were built in the subsidence zone years later after the bluff was stabilized with driven sheet piling. Photo from Ruth A.M. Schmidt papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

A man reads news accounts of the seismic event. Photo from Robert and Wilma Knox papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Anchorage woman boiling snow for water. Water, sewer, electric and other utilities were damaged and it took several weeks to repair and gradually reconnect them. Photo from Robert and Wilma Knox papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortiu… — Anchorage woman boiling snow for water. Water, sewer, electric and other utilities were damaged and it took several weeks to repair and gradually reconnect them. Photo from Robert and Wilma Knox papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

The Hewitt’s Drug Store building that dated from the 1920s was damaged beyond repair and torn down in late 1964. Ralph moved out of a second floor apartment here less than a month before the quake.