TSUNAMI INUNDATION MAPS OF ANCHOR POINT, KENAI, NINILCHIK, AND TYONEK IN COOK INLET, ALASKA.

We evaluate potential tsunami hazards for several communities in lower Cook Inlet, including Anchor Point, Kenai, Ninilchik, and Tyonek, by numerically modeling the extent of inundation from tsunami waves generated by hypothetical earthquakes. We define an updated suite of earthquakes—including Tohoku-style megathrust ruptures and other sources in the eastern part of the Alaska–Aleutian megathrust—to calculate vertical seafloor displacements and model resulting tsunami dynamics. A hypothetical earthquake spanning from Kodiak Island to Prince William Sound with maximum slip distributed between depths of 5 and 22 km (3.1 and 13.7 mi) results in “worst case” tsunami inundation for all communities. If the tsunami arrives at high tide, the maximum predicted overland flow depths in the communities can reach up to 10 m (32.8 ft), and the currents could be as strong as 12 m/sec (23.4 knots). Dangerous wave activity is expected to last for more than 24 hours. Results presented here are intended to provide guidance to local emergency management agencies for tsunami inundation assessment, evacuation planning, and public education to mitigate future tsunami damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]