On April 01, 1946 a devastating magnitude 8.6 earthquake rocked the Aleutian Islands. The shock had a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). This strong earthquake resulted in more than 165–173 casualties and over $26 million in damage.

"The quake was felt over an area of 3,000,000 square miles (7,800,000 square kilometers), which covers parts of Hawaii and Alaska, most of the rest of the United States and western Canada and off-shore areas. The tsunami damaged more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) of shoreline."