Alaska is by far the most seismically active US state, sitting on the Aleutian subduction zone where great M8-9 earthquakes occur.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Alaska.
What the record shows for Alaska
The strongest earthquake on record near Alaska is a magnitude 9.2 in 1964, centred The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Earthquake - 62 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 959 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 666 km of Alaska - roughly 48 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
Alaska sits in the the Alaska–Aleutian megathrust system, where the pattern is every 500–900 years. The last major event was the 1964 Great Alaska earthquake in 1964 (M9.2), 62 years ago. The second-largest earthquake ever recorded.
The NOAA NCEI database records 13 tsunamis within 666 km of Alaska between 1540 and 2024. The most significant was in 1964 near Prince William Sound, Ak, triggered by an M9.2 earthquake, which killed around 139 people.
17 volcanoes are catalogued near Alaska, including Buzzard Creek, Hayes, Spurr, Redoubt, Iliamna, Augustine and 11 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Check Alaska hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk in Alaska - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Alaska - FAQ
Is Alaska at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 48 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 666 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M9.2 in 1964.
What was the biggest earthquake in Alaska?
The strongest earthquake on record near Alaska is M9.2, in 1964 (The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Earthquake), from USGS.
Does Alaska get tsunamis?
Yes - 13 tsunamis since 1540 (most recently 2024) within 666 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 139 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Alaska?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.