It’s another normal day in Alaska, where the beauty of the rugged landscape makes the hardships of winter worth enduring. This Northern life is good, you think, when suddenlywithout warningyour world is ROCKED! The ground sways beneath your feet with sickening force. You’ve just been caught in the second strongest earthquake in history! Witness to Disaster: Earthquakesuses eyewitness accounts and pulse-racing narrative to bring readers into the terrifying heart of an earthquake. The first chapter documents the 1964 Alaskan quake that shook Prince William Sound with a 9.2 magnitude force, and set off a tsunami that ultimately caused most of the deaths attributed to this frightening act of nature. The following chapters explore the deadly history of earthquakes and the seismic and geological science of this phenomenon. Readers learn how and why earthquakes occur, and what scientists can do to prevent casualties. The expansive back matter includes a list of sources to discover more about these fearsome catastrophes.Judith and Dennis Fradin have published over 150 books for children. They have won many awards, most recently a Jefferson Cup Honor for their book5,000 Miles to Freedom(National Geographic, 2006). Their most recent National Geographic titles wereHurricanesandVolcanoesin the Witness to Disaster series. They live in Chicago, IL.
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