Community members and lawmakers got a look at the damage to the school in Eagle River and heard officials and engineers explain why rumors about the damage are inaccurate.
Federal and local assistance has helped, but for many, earthquake recovery in Southcentral Alaska has proven to be a challenging and often frustrating affair.
According to municipal officials and academics, the November 2018 earthquake shows a more rigorous inspection process in Anchorage paid off in the end — even if it cost more to build.
Understanding how the magnitude 7.1 earthquake happened starts with understanding what makes up the earth below, and how it has been moving around for millions of years.
This series examines the lessons we learned from the quake, how residents have grappled with the recovery process, and how we can prepare for the next big earthquake.
Images show just how much has changed in the year since a magnitude 7.1 earthquake shook Southcentral Alaska.
From taste-testing food in your earthquake kit to making contact with family members Outside, here are some tips to help you prepare for the next big quake.
“The question is, ‘Are we more prepared for the big one?’ Because the 7.1 wasn’t the big one," says a UAA structural earthquake engineering professor.
The nine-story building is the only commercial property in Anchorage that is fully vacant due to damage from November 7.1 earthquake.
That figure includes both the repairs needed in the immediate aftermath of the quake and optional improvements that would improve the schools’ quake readiness, said a district official.
People are still buying and selling homes, but properties in some areas are sitting on the market for longer as waits for inspections linger on.
The restaurant will be torn down and rebuilt this summer.
The demand for repairs compounds a labor shortage construction businesses were dealing with before the quake hit.
Engineers found more damage during repairs to the Town Center building in downtown Eagle River.
The shift came after elected officials and homeowners argued the federal agency’s inspections weren’t accounting for winter conditions and specific earthquake damage.
The earthquake, which hit about 13 miles north of Anchorage late Saturday afternoon, is the first aftershock to weigh in at a magnitude of at least 4.0 in five weeks.
The Mat-Su school was badly damaged because of the concrete-block construction used, officials say.
The extent of damage in the Prince William Sound town is still unknown, the city manager said.
A hotel, thrift store and two large commercial buildings in East Anchorage are among those still shut.
There has been confusion among people trying to get FEMA aid to repair their homes.
