When most people think of tsunamis, they picture faraway islands in the Pacific. But the United States, with its vast coastlines and tectonic fault zones, has not been immune to the devastating power of these sea-borne natural disasters. Although large tsunamis are rare in the U.S., history holds several chilling reminders of just how destructive they can be. Below is a look at some of the deadliest tsunamis to ever strike the United States.
1. 1964 Alaska Good Friday Tsunami
- Date: March 27, 1964
- Location: South-Central Alaska
- Fatalities: Over 130 (including tsunami-related deaths in Alaska, Oregon, and California)
Triggered by a 9.2 magnitude earthquake—the second largest ever recorded globally—the 1964 Alaska tsunami was the deadliest in U.S. history. Coastal towns such as Seward, Valdez, and Kodiak were ravaged by massive waves, some reaching over 30 feet high. Entire ports were destroyed, and fires broke out as fuel tanks exploded. The tsunami didn’t stop at Alaska. Waves traveled down the Pacific Coast, killing people as far south as Crescent City, California, which saw waves over 20 feet and major flooding.
2. 1946 Aleutian Islands Tsunami
- Date: April 1, 1946
- Location: Unimak Island, Alaska → Hilo, Hawaii
- Fatalities in U.S.: 173 in Hawaii (though originating from U.S. territory)
An undersea earthquake near Alaska’s Aleutian Islands triggered this powerful tsunami. While it only caused limited damage in Alaska, the waves raced across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. In Hilo, the tsunami struck with little warning, destroying downtown buildings and killing over 170 people. The disaster led directly to the creation of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
3. 1918 Puerto Rico Tsunami
- Date: October 11, 1918
- Location: Northwestern Puerto Rico
- Fatalities: Over 100
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake off the coast of Puerto Rico’s Aguadilla region generated a tsunami that struck the island’s northwest coast. Waves as high as 20 feet hit within minutes, wiping out towns like Aguadilla and Mayagüez. The event remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in Puerto Rico’s history, then already a U.S. territory.
4. Tsunami Resulting from Lituya Bay Mega Landslide (1958)
- Date: July 9, 1958
- Location: Lituya Bay, Alaska
- Fatalities: 5
While not a traditional ocean-wide tsunami, this event was extraordinary in terms of sheer wave height. A massive landslide plunged into Alaska’s Lituya Bay, generating a wave that reached a world-record 1,720 feet—literally stripping vegetation from mountains. Though the bay’s remote location spared many lives, this tsunami remains a legendary geologic event.
5. Crescent City, California Tsunami (1964)
- Date: March 28, 1964
- Fatalities: 11
Crescent City, a small town in Northern California, was hit especially hard by the after-effects of the 1964 Alaska quake. A series of tsunami waves slammed into the town, with the fourth wave causing the most destruction. Downtown Crescent City was reduced to ruins, and 11 residents lost their lives—making it the deadliest tsunami-related event in the lower 48 states.
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