On March 27, 1964 CE, the Great Alaska earthquake, estimated at magnitude 9.2, struck the Prince William Sound region. This was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North America and caused widespread destruction, including a tsunami that affected the west coast of the United States. The event revolutionized the study of plate tectonics and seismic safety.

The 1964 Alaska earthquake has been the subject of numerous scientific and popular accounts, and it has inspired a body of American poetry and prose that reflects on the power of nature and human vulnerability. The event is often used in literature from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska as a symbol of the untamed wilderness and the constant threat of natural disaster. It continues to resonate in the works of contemporary American poets who explore themes of environment and catastrophe.