The earthquake was felt from Unalaska to Fairbanks to Juneau and affected ground water levels as far away as Florida. It caused a seiche in Death Valley's Devil's Hole that spurred endangered pupfish to spawn out of season. Perhaps most important, tsunami warnings forced communities around the gulf to evacuate, testing their preparedness in the real-world conditions of a winter night.

The network of strong motion sensors across the Anchorage Bowl displayed varying degrees of shaking, but resulted in no damage. Tsunami evacuation warnings received by Anchorage residents caused some confusion and some unnecessary evacuations, but prompted thoughtful discussions on the hazards residents and visitors face.