Upper Cook Inlet community meetings will address tsunami hazard

Elisabeth Nadin
907-474-7664
Oct. 12, 2023

In a series of community meetings to be held Oct. 17–20, scientists and local emergency managers will answer questions about a new report of tsunami hazard to upper Cook Inlet.

Residents across upper Cook Inlet learned in August that they may not be as protected from tsunami danger as they had previously thought.

Cook Inlet tsunami map — Image courtesy of Elena Suleimani, �ֻ�ֱ�� Earthquake Center; Barrett Salisbury, �ֻ�ֱ�� Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys; Dmitry Nicolsky, UAF Geophysical Institute
The map shows the worst-case flooding scenario for upper Cook Inlet, based on numerical modeling.

A new by scientists at the �ֻ�ֱ�� and the �ֻ�ֱ�� Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys revealed the conditions under which a tsunami could reach upper Cook Inlet’s shores, which were previously considered to be immune to tsunami threat. The study, including a map of the modeled tsunami inundation line, is aimed at preparing residents and emergency responders for the most extreme tsunami scenario.

The scientists and local emergency managers welcome members of the public to ask questions at a series of community meetings.

The following lineup is intended to cover communities with land within the modeled inundation zones detailed in the report. Each meeting will begin with a welcome by a member of the Anchorage Assembly from the affected area, followed by an overview of the report by scientists, then an introduction to the wider panel that includes the emergency managers. The session ends with an open period for questions from attendees.

SESSIONS

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 6:30-8 p.m., Girdwood Community Room, 250 Egloff Drive, Girdwood.
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 6-7:30 p.m., Matanuska–Susitna Borough Assembly chambers, 350 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer. (Also .)
Thursday, Oct. 19, 6-7:30 p.m., Anchorage Assembly chambers, 3600 Denali St., Anchorage.
Friday, Oct. 20, 6-7:30 p.m., Anchorage Assembly chambers, 3600 Denali St., Anchorage.

AGENDA

1. Welcome/speaker introductions

2. Presentation by scientists — Elena Suleimani, �ֻ�ֱ�� Earthquake Center tsunami modeler, and Barrett Salisbury, earthquake and tsunami hazards program manager at the �ֻ�ֱ�� Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

3. Introduction of emergency managers:

Amanda Loach, director, Office of Emergency Management (Anchorage)
Anthony Picasso, geohazard mitigation coordinator and Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards Program manager, �ֻ�ֱ�� Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Bryan Fisher, director, �ֻ�ֱ�� Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Steve Ribuffo, director, Port of �ֻ�ֱ��
One of the following National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials: Dave Snider (tsunami warning coordinator), Aviva Braun (warning coordination meteorologist) or Dave Kochevar (tsunami program manager)

4. Question and answer session with panel

The StoryMap provides background on the tsunami report and tsunami and earthquake science in �ֻ�ֱ��.

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