South-Carolina
What was the strongest earthquake to hit South Carolina?
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WBTW) — Did you are feeling that?
Though a few of its flat terrain suggests in any other case, South Carolina is definitely a hotbed for seismic exercise.
The state experiences 10 to twenty earthquakes a yr, in accordance with the South Carolina Emergency Administration Division, however solely two or 5 will be felt. The earthquakes are usually delicate, hitting a magnitude of three — nearly sufficient to be felt, however not sufficient to knock objects off cabinets — the massive majority of the time.
Nonetheless, after they’re bit, they massive.
On Aug. 31, 1886 an earthquake that hit the Summerville/Charleston space lasted a couple of minute and was felt greater than 2.5 million sq. miles away. The 7.3 magnitude quake killed 60 folks and is without doubt one of the most intense to hit the southern U.S. in recorded historical past.
Whereas there hasn’t been a equally damaging earthquake within the space since, quakes of the identical magnitude have been included in oral histories, in accordance with the SCEMD.
Charleston, which is on a fault line, is without doubt one of the most seismically energetic locations on the East Coast.
To organize for future quakes, SCEMD recommends checking houses for risks. It recommends securing cabinets to partitions, putting breakable objects in closed cupboards with latches and eradicating heavy objects from areas round the place folks sleep.
Households ought to determine secure locations of their dwelling and conduct follow drills.
Throughout an earthquake, folks ought to drop and take cowl beneath a desk or different piece of sturdy furnishings. Keep there till shaking stops. If in mattress, folks ought to shield their heads with a pillow.
We’ve compiled an inventory of probably the most intense earthquakes to strike the Palmetto State. Data was gathered from the U.S. Geological Survey, together with historic document:
10. Oct. 27, 1959
Location: 6 km northeast of McBee
Magnitude: 3.9
9. Nov. 11, 2002
Location: 26 km south southeast of Kiawah Island
Magnitude: 4
8. Feb. 15, 2014
Location: 12 km east northeast of Parksville
Magnitude: 4.1
7. Aug. 21, 1992
Location: 1 km northeast of Sangaree
Magnitude: 4.1
6. Aug. 2, 1972
Location: 8 km north of Lincolntown, Georgia
Magnitude: 4.3
5. Feb. 3, 1972
Location: 10 km east southeast of Bowman
Magnitude: 4.4
4. Aug. 3, 1959
Location: 2 kilometers north of Sangaree
Magnitude: 4.4
3. Nov. 22, 1974
Location: 10 km south southwest of Ladson
Magnitude: 4.7
2. Jan. 1, 1913
Location: Union County
Magnitude: 5.5
- Aug. 31, 1886
Location: Charleston
Magnitude: 7.3