50th Anniversary of Deadly Montana Earthquake

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By KFBB News Team

Story Published: Aug 16, 2009 at 10:49 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 16, 2009 at 10:49 PM MDT

Tomorrow will be the 50th anniversary of the most violent recorded earthquake in Montana's history.

On August 17th, 1959, the Hebgen Lake earthquake killed 28 people and caused $11 million dollars worth of damage.

The quake hit at 11:37 at night, and lasted for about 30 to 40 seconds.

The earthquake was recorded at a 7.5 magnitude on the Richter scale, and generated North America's largest seismically-triggered landslide.

During the earthquake, a deadly rockslide came down on the Rock Creek campground, trapping and killing 19 people under 80 million tons of debris.

Survivors talked about their earthquake experiences at this weekend's anniversary events.

A memorial service will be held at the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.

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Anne Marie Kirkman said on Monday, Aug 17 at 12:05 PM

I was also in the earthquake camped in the redrock campground. My mother was killed and my father was critically injured. My twin sister and I were the ones that wrote the S O S on the dam spillway trying to get help. We were only 12 years old at that time. I also agree that that area is sacred. My parents were Ray and Myrtle Painter. My mothers name is engrave on the boulder that road the creast of the slide as it came down across the canyon.

Cindy Stevick said on Monday, Aug 17 at 11:34 AM

I was a little girl when my family was camped in Rock Creek campground, & we had camped there every year. We left the campground and began our trip back home to Miles City on the 17th after a week of camping. Had the Milwaukee Railroad not changed my father vacation at the last minute, we would have arrived at the campground on the 17th. The site has always been sacred ground for my family. Coincidence - my mother's funeral in 1987 was on the anniversary of the quake! Blessings to all!

Rod said on Monday, Aug 17 at 8:12 AM

My Great-Grandfather actually saved a couple of people that were in a canoe out on the lake that day. The waves produced by the earthquake would have sunk them. He's kind of the family hero!

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