Living With the Coast of Alaska

by Mason, Owen K.; Neal, William J.; Pilkey, Orrin H.; Fathauer, Ted; Fathaver, Ted; Pilkey, Deborah F.; Swanston, Douglas

• ISBN13: 9780822320197
• ISBN10: 0822320193
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-01-01
• Publisher: Duke Univ Pr

Summary

Facing two oceans and three seas, Alaska's coastline stretches through bays, fjords, and around islands for 45,000 miles. Living with the Coast of Alaska, a new volume in the Living with the Shore series, is a user's guide for both present and future inhabitants of Alaska. Providing individual property owners in all regions of the state with the fundamentals of hazard recognition and mitigation strategy, the authors discuss the geological history of Alaska and its relation to the area's cultural history and present customised hazard risk assessments for coastal communities. Describing the dynamic nature of natural seismic events and coastal processes in Alaska, the authors emphasise the multiplicity of potential effects that result from a unique combination of geology, climate, and the sea. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunami waves, avalanches, glacial advances, storm surges, flash flooding, wind channelling, and shoreline erosion (combined with human-induced hazards such as oil spills, fire, and beach and offshore mining accidents) make living with danger a way of life in Alaska. The authors provide information on federal and state laws and programs regarding natural disasters and coastal zone management as well as practical suggestions for the design and construction of buildings. For private, commercial, and public developments, this book offers a manual to help Alaskans make informed decisions to minimise, if not avoid, damage and danger.

Table of Contents

Preface

The Lay of the Land and Its Occupation by Humans

Nature's Dangerous Brew: Geology, Climate, and the Coast

Settling Alaska: 11,000 Years of Human History

Hazards in Alaska

Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis: A Deadly Trio

The Problem of Unstable Slopes

Wind, Ice, and Sea

Shoreline Erosion

River Flooding in Coastal Alaska

Human-Induced Hazards and Health Risks

Risk Evaluation for Alaska's Coastal Communities

Arctic Alaska

Southwest Alaska: The Bering Sea Coast

The Gulf of Alaska and South-Central Coast

Southeast Alaska

Responding to Alaska's Hazards

Mitigating Wind, Snow Loading, and Permafrost Hazard Impacts through Construction

Earthquake-Resistant Design and Construction

Natural Hazards and Coastal Zone Management in Alaska

Appendixes

Responding to Hazards: Checklists

Earthquake Checklists

Volcanic Ash Checklists

Tsunami Checklists

Flood Checklists

Winter Storm Checklists

A Guide to Federal and State Agencies

References

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.