Section VI. EFFECTS OF MAIN TSUNAMI ON NORTH AMERICAN SEABOARD 



1. Tsunami Damage Along the Canadian Pacific Coast 



We return to a consideration of the effects of the tsunami along 

 e Pacific Coast of North America. The nature of the waves has already 

 en discussed in Section III. 



The tectonic movements in the Gulf of Alaska directed the major part 

 ' the energy of the seismic sea waves in a southeast direction toward 

 e west coast of North America. Except for the Gulf of Alaska, this 

 astline suffered the greatest damage of any in the Pacific arena. Most 

 avily damaged were Crescent City, California, and Port Alberni on 

 .ncouver Island, Canada. 



The tsunami waves of the Alaskan earthquake were larger than any 

 eviously recorded on the British Columbia coast according to Wigen and 

 ite (196U). Damage was estimated by insurance adjusters at from $2.5 



$3 million. However, according to Spaeth and Berkman (1967), the final 

 mage estimate was more than $10 million (see Table E-5, Appendix E). 



All damage in Canada was produced entirely by the tsunami (V/igen 

 d White, 196^1). The combination of high waves with' high tides caused 

 e crests to surge above normal high water and flood low-lying areas, 

 ildings were swept away, wharves damaged, and log booms destroyed, 

 wever, only one case of severe bodily harm to an inhabitant was 

 ported along the coast of British Columbia. 



At the head of Hot Springs Cove near the central part of the west 

 ast of Vancouver Island (Figure 78), an Indian village suffered severe 

 mage. Homes were scattered into the inlet. The general store and re- 

 eling station, about a mile from the head of the inlet, suffered minor 

 mage. The wharf was structurally damaged and fuel lines leading from, 

 e tanks on the slope behind the store were broken (White, I966). 



Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet, waterways to the south and north 

 Nootka Island (Figure 78), provide entrances to the connecting passages 

 d inlets surrounding the island and extending radially inland from it. 

 e peak height reached by the largest wave of the tsunami seems to have 

 en less in this system of inlets than for others to the north and south 

 igure 78). No damage was reported at Tahsis or at the Nootka Mission 

 sociation Hospital at Esperanza. At Gold River, dormitory buildings of 

 e Elk River Company were flooded to a depth of 2 feet. Waves surged up 

 e main street of Zeballos, moving some buildings and causing extensive 

 ooding damage in homes and stores . The first wave reached its msLximiam 

 ight there at about 11:00 p.m. Pacific standard time. A recession to 

 proximately zero tide was reported between the first and second waves 

 liite, 1966). 



A large number of bottom fish, some dead, and others barely showing 

 gns of life, were reported found on the surface of the water in Tahsis 



319 



