Tsunamis in the United States
In a total of 221 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1737 a total of 9,933 people died in the United States. Tsunamis therefore occur comparatively often in this country.The strongest tidal wave registered in the United States so far reached a height of 59 meters. At this Tsunami on 09/08/2017 a total of 8 people have been killed.
The biggest impact in terms of lifes, injuries, destroyed homes and economy had been a tsunami on 04/03/1868. A tidal wave of up to 37 meters killed 31 humans and destroyed vast areas.
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The marked positions on the map represent the most effected regions within the past 190 years.
Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes or other seismic eruptions on ground of an oceans and can cause massive tidal waves, which run with enormous force on land, causing great devastation. Especially in regions with only few tsunamis, the damage is often drastic, as the population does not expect tsunamis and thus hardly takes any protective measures. Even relatively small flood waves can lead to high losses and financial damage.
Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes or other seismic eruptions on ground of an oceans and can cause massive tidal waves, which run with enormous force on land, causing great devastation. Especially in regions with only few tsunamis, the damage is often drastic, as the population does not expect tsunamis and thus hardly takes any protective measures. Even relatively small flood waves can lead to high losses and financial damage.
The largest tsunamis in the United States since 1919
| Date | Cause | max wave height | Deaths | Total damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/08/2017 | Earthquake in Mexico (S. Mexico) with a magnitude of 8.2. The tsunami caused damages in 14 further countries. | 59m | 8 | |
| 09/16/2015 | Earthquake in Chile (Central Chile) with a magnitude of 8.3. The tsunami caused damages in 23 further countries. | 59m | 111 | |
| 04/01/2014 | Earthquake in Chile (Northern Chile) with a magnitude of 8.2. The tsunami caused damages in 17 further countries. | 58m | 83 | |
| 02/06/2013 | Earthquake on the Solomon Islands (Santa Cruz Islands) with a magnitude of 7.9. The tsunami caused damages in 23 further countries. | 57m | 50 | |
| 10/28/2012 | Earthquake in Canada (British Columbia) with a magnitude of 7.7. The tsunami caused damages in 15 further countries. | 58m | 136 | |
| 03/11/2011 | Earthquake in Japan (Honshu Island) with a magnitude of 9.1. The tsunami caused damages in 33 further countries. A total of 18,453 humans died. | 57m | 1,632 | |
| 02/27/2010 | Earthquake in Chile (Central Chile) with a magnitude of 8.8. The tsunami caused damages in 21 further countries. A total of 156 humans died. | 59m | 127 | |
| 09/29/2009 | Earthquake in Samoa (Samoa Islands) with a magnitude of 8.1. The tsunami caused damages in 22 further countries. A total of 192 humans died. | 50m | 81 | |
| 03/19/2009 | Earthquake in Tonga (Tonga) with a magnitude of 7.6. The tsunami caused damages in 10 further countries. | 58m | 8 | |
| 08/15/2007 | Earthquake in Peru (S. Peru) with a magnitude of 8.0. The tsunami caused damages in 13 further countries. | 53m | 34 | |
| 12/26/2004 | Earthquake in Indonesia (Off W. Coast Of Sumatra) with a magnitude of 9.1. The tsunami caused damages in 47 further countries. A total of 227,899 humans died. | 50m | 48 | |
| 03/03/1985 | Earthquake in Chile (Central Chile) with a magnitude of 8.0. The tsunami also reached Chile, Russia, Japan, Ecuador, French Polynesia. | 46m | 24 | |
| 10/17/1966 | Earthquake in Peru (Central Peru) with a magnitude of 8.1. The tsunami caused damages in 8 further countries. | 49m | 38 | |
| 03/28/1964 | Earthquake, landslide in the United States (Prince William Sound, Ak) with a magnitude of 9.2. The tsunami caused damages in 27 further countries. | 56m | 540 | |
| 10/20/1963 | Earthquake in Russia (S. Kuril Islands) with a magnitude of 7.9. The tsunami caused damages in 5 further countries. | 59m | 12 | |
| 10/13/1963 | Earthquake in Russia (S. Kuril Islands) with a magnitude of 8.5. The tsunami caused damages in 9 further countries. | 53m | 30 | |
| 05/22/1960 | Earthquake in Chile (Southern Chile) with a magnitude of 9.5. The tsunami caused damages in 31 further countries. A total of 2,226 humans died. | 58m | 1,385 | |
| 05/04/1959 | Earthquake in Russia (Kamchatka) with a magnitude of 8.2. | 58m | 12 | |
| 11/06/1958 | Earthquake in Russia (S. Kuril Islands) with a magnitude of 8.3. The tsunami also reached , Canada, Japan, American Samoa, Marshall Islands. | 58m | 22 | |
| 07/10/1958 | Earthquake, landslide in the United States (Se. Alaska, Ak) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 57m | 24 | |
| 03/09/1957 | Earthquake in the United States (Andreanof Islands, Ak) with a magnitude of 8.6. The tsunami caused damages in 18 further countries. | 59m | 975 | |
| 09/14/1953 | Earthquake, landslide on the Fijis (Fiji Islands) with a magnitude of 6.4. The tsunami also reached Fiji, American Samoa, Vanuatu. | 44m | 8 | |
| 11/04/1952 | Earthquake in Russia (Kamchatka) with a magnitude of 9.0. The tsunami caused damages in 21 further countries. A total of 10,000 humans died. | 59m | 472 | |
| 08/21/1951 | Earthquake in the United States (Hawaii) with a magnitude of 6.9. | 38m | 13 | |
| 12/20/1946 | Earthquake in Japan (Honshu: S Coast) with a magnitude of 8.1. The tsunami also reached Japan, Peru. A total of 1,362 humans died. | 37m | 12 | |
| 04/01/1946 | Earthquake, landslide in the United States (Unimak Island, Ak) with a magnitude of 8.6. The tsunami caused damages in 11 further countries. | 50m | 1,917 | |
| 11/10/1938 | Earthquake in the United States (Shumagin Islands, Ak) with a magnitude of 8.2. | 49m | 16 | |
| 11/18/1929 | Earthquake, landslide in Canada (Grand Banks, Newfoundland) with a magnitude of 7.3. The tsunami also reached Portugal, Canada, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Martinique, Bermuda. A total of 28 humans died. | 45m | 13 | |
| 04/13/1923 | Earthquake in Russia (Kamchatka) with a magnitude of 7.2. The tsunami also reached Russia, South Korea, Japan, Canada. A total of 18 humans died. | 54m | 9 | |
| 04/30/1919 | Earthquake in Tonga (Tonga Islands) with a magnitude of 8.1. The tsunami also reached Canada, Tonga, American Samoa, Samoa. | 47m | 10 |
These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Global Historical Tsunami Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Several data have been summarized and translated. Foto taken from National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC, public domain).