On November seventh, 1882, reporters on the Rocky Mountain Information in Denver have been engaged on their election night time articles when the bottom started to violently shake. A 6.6 magnitude earthquake had struck, turning into the most important recognized in Colorado’s historical past. As we speak, it’s secure to imagine {that a} majority of individuals don’t even understand that Colorado has earthquakes, regardless of the state containing round 100 presumably energetic fault traces.
Consider it or not, Colorado sees, on common, round 50-70 earthquakes a yr, although few are even noticeable by a traditional particular person. Earthquake report retaining for the state started solely round 130 years in the past, making the prediction of an earthquake just like the 1882 incident reasonably troublesome. The Colorado Geological Survey, nevertheless, is making an attempt to collect an understanding of the dangers with the assistance of 9 seismometers throughout the state. A 3.2 magnitude earthquake hit close to Ridgeway, Colorado, on Sunday, November sixth, simply barely sturdy sufficient for these close to the epicenter to really feel.
“You possibly can really feel a couple of magnitude 2.5, so that they in all probability simply felt a bit of little bit of trembling.” – Director of the Colorado Geological Survey Matt Morgan, to CBS Colorado
Primarily based on their analysis, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake doesn’t appear doubtless, but it surely’s definitely potential. Based on CBS Information Colorado, an earthquake just like 1882’s might simply price Colorado as much as $30 billion is repairs. For reference, San Francisco, California, skilled a earthquake leading to $7 billion in damages, 62 deaths, and 3000 injured people. That earthquake registered as a 6.9 on the Richter Scale.
Picture Credit score: CBS Colorado through YouTube