(See the Report on a 3.6 Magnitude Earthquake in the Lowcountry) The South Carolina Geological Survey (SCGS) is interested in making South Carolinians aware of our seismic past, what causes our earthquakes, what is being done to reduce the losses that will result from future quakes, and what you should do before, during, and after an earthquake. inducing earthquakes in coastal South Carolina in the last 6000 years. It was centered 7 miles west of Edgefield, S.C. "We'll (also) be looking for deeper mineral prospects," he said. Fallen plaster. The Rossi-Forel Scale initially used to describe the January 1, 1913, Union County, S.C., earthquake is considered comparable to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale for the purpose of developing this map. One of the problems we have here back on the eastern half of the country is we dont have earthquakes as often, which means we have far fewer recordings of how the ground moves in order to base our estimates of future earthquakes on," Jaume said. 0 earthquakes in the past 7 days. professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences. Railroad tracks are badly bent. Junior science on file, 1991: Facts on File. What we don't have a good handle on is what the risk is. Twenty-seven years after the 1886 Charleston earthquake, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook Union County on Jan. 1, 1913. But the seismic standards in building codes are based on Western quakes. This map courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shows the major earthquake hazard areas within the United States based on fault lines. It is estimated that 14,000 chimneys fell in Charleston from the shaking. Plates move mere inches annually, carrying the continents and ocean basins with them as they drift about. Carbon Sequestration The most infamous and damaging of all South Carolina earthquakes happened in Charleston on the night of Aug. 31, 1886. Twenty-seven years after the 1886 Charleston earthquake and subsequent after shocks, another strong earthquake occurred in South Carolina. Meteorites A U.S. Geological Survey contractor is taking magnetic sensor readings so fine that the data will produce a map of those webs with a resolution of several hundred yards per reading. One earthquake along the fault line was so powerful that it caused the Mississippi river to change course. USGS: Parts of South Carolina at high risk of earthquakes, South Carolina is among 16 states in the U.S. with the highest risk for earthquakes, according to an update from the U.S. Geological Survey.The USGS updated its national seismic hazard maps for the first time since 2008 on Thursday. Another factor that affected the percent of buildings destroyed was what kind of ground these buildings were built on. South Carolinas quakes are located within a plate rather than at a plate boundary. Poorly built buildings are damaged slightly. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Turkey on Monday, leaving a devastating death toll of nearly 24,000. Copyright Weary, D.J., 2008, Preliminary map of potentially karstic carbonate rocks in central and southern Appalachians states: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1154, Available online only at https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1154/, last accessed 15 April 2011. 7.0 and higher: Extreme damage. Most people had gone to bed by 9:51 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31, 1886. Buildings are shifted off foundations. One of the primary reasons South Carolina is vulnerable to damage from earthquakes is through a process called liquefaction - a process in which a saturated sand softens and loses strength due during strong earthquake ground shaking. In our state, quakes may occur along ancient plate boundaries where existing faults are reactivated as the tectonic stress is released. The land around a fault may shift horizontally, vertically, or a combination of these motions (see Figure 5). MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - The 6th earthquake in two days has rattled areas of around Elgin, South Carolina. Archived Survey News Poorly built structures suffer severe damage. Mineral Resources Note: McGee and others (1986) source for Figures 2 through 4 and Figure 9. Some Charleston area residents reported a booming noise Read moreNew penny tax proposed to fix Spartanburg County roads, bridges, A final vote on the natural resources element of Georgetown County's comprehensive plan was deferred for the county council's Feb. 28 meeting. 5 Geology Road The intensities shown on this map are the highest likely under the most adverse geologic conditions that would be produced by a combination of the August 31, 1886, Charleston, S.C., earthquake and the January 1, 1913, Union County, S.C., earthquake. SEGSA Presentations ZWMwYmYzZmI3MmU5NTA0YzJlYWY2ODVjNWQxZjdjYmMyZTY4M2ExNzJkZGUw American Geosciences Institute. Aftershocks continued to rattle the region for months. Columbia, SC 29212 On the list for the continental 48 states, the New Madrid main shocks are ranked #5, 6, and 7. South Carolina's quakes are located within a plate rather than at a plate boundary. Similar faults are found all along the east coast of North America. Visited By An Earthquake", "Results of recent South Carolina seismological studies", Historical Earthquakes: Charleston, South Carolina, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Overview of an archival collection on the Charleston earthquake, Isoseismal map of the earthquake centered near Charleston, South Carolina, on August 31, 1886, Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, St. Matthew's German Evangelical Lutheran Church, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1886_Charleston_earthquake&oldid=1141991750, 1886 natural disasters in the United States, 19th-century in Charleston, South Carolina, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 23:16. Project chief Mark Petersen said parts of Washington, Oregon, Utah, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming and Tennessee moved into the top two hazard zones. The map can be used to determine the types of rocks and sediments that can be found in specific areas of South Carolina. On the other hand, the powerful 5.8 magnitude Virginia quake in 2011 erupted from an unknown buried fault that Shah's survey later found. It caused multiple fires and water lines and wells were ruptured and broken. The Lowcountrys history provides a strong reason to take the threat of an earthquake seriously. The first aftershock followed just ten minutes later, and had the city rumbling once again. We know that there is a lot we can explain about these seismic events and wanted to help answer a lot of those questions and limit confusion among the media and members of the public.. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Learn how to shut off all utilities in your home, and have the necessary tools on hand. Structural damage was reported several hundred miles from Charleston, including in central Alabama, central Ohio, eastern Kentucky, southern Virginia and western West Virginia. In South Carolina, approximately 70 percent of the earthquakes occur in the coastal plain and most are clustered around areas west and north of Charleston. ELGIN, South Carolina The USGS is providing scenarios to estimate the chance of larger earthquakes as part of an ongoing swarm in the region. In our state, quakes may occur along ancient plate boundaries where existing faults are reactivated as geological stress is released. Earthquakes in South Carolina Carbon Sequestration Read moreIn final argument, Alex Murdaugh's prosecutor warns jury: 'Don't let him fool you, too', Spartanburg County may ask voters to approve another six-year penny sales tax in November, which could generate $478 million for road and bridge work. Different areas across the country react to earthquakes in different ways, and thats what researchers are trying to understand. Other quakes you might have heard of that caused damage were significantly stronger than these. [12], Local photographer George LaGrange Cook took a series of photographs of the city after the quake, publishing them as Cook's Earthquake Views of Charleston and Vicinity. Doors swing open or closed. Small objects move or are turned over. If driving in a car, avoid bridges, underpasses, and overpasses. , Post and Courier, an Evening Post Publishing Newspaper Group. OGYwZTM5ODhmODBiYTVkYjkyNWNjNzg0ZTAyZmNiM2E5MDFlNTU5ODA4MTJi These quakes often are the ones that are the most destructive and well understood in terms of plate tectonics. Natural resources is one of 10 elements required in a countys comprehensive plan a map for future development that is updated every 10 years. Low around 65F. The force that causes the stress within the rock is a result of movement of giant sections of the Earth's crust (see Figures 6 and 7). This area has the highest concentration of ancient fault lines in the state. Cracks are opened in cement pavements and asphalt road surfaces. Schaeffer, W.T., 1995, Paleoliquefaction investigations near Georgetown, South Carolina: M.Sc. The epicenter was located near Edgefield SC and could be felt all over SC, Georgia, and Western North Carolina. The most prominent damage was done to buildings constructed out of brick, amounting to 81% of building damage. Links Officials say 1 in 10 people in the U.S. now live in high-hazard areas where strong shaking is likely during their lifetimes, according to the USGS, and during the past six years, strongly felt earthquakes have occurred in 21 states, including South Carolina. This quake was on the afternoon of January 1, 1913, at 1:28 p.m. near the town of Union in Union County. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A new report shows the Lowcountry is one of the only areas along the East Coast at high risk for damage from earthquakes. Railroad tracks are bent slightly. The fact is most states are at risk of major . Earthquake in South Carolina, United States, "Modern Seismicity and the Fault Responsible for the 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, Earthquake", "Historical and recent seismic activity in South Carolina", "Building damage at Charleston, South Carolina, associated with the 1886 earthquake", "Old White Meeting House Ruins and Cemetery, Dorchester County (SC Hwy 642, Summerville vicinity)", "Benchmarks: August 31, 1886: Magnitude-7 earthquake rocks Charleston, South Carolina", "Earthquake shakes Charleston, South Carolina", "The 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, Earthquake - A 1986 Perspective", "Esri News -- ArcNews Winter 2002/2003 Issue -- South Carolina Devises Earthquake Preparedness Plan With GIS", "The 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake; a 1986 perspective", "Charleston Still Shaking With Memories of 1886 Earthquake", "Liquefaction Potential Map of Charleston, South Carolina Based on the 1886 Earthquake", "Seismologist discusses recent earthquakes in Lowcountry", "Death! Bollinger, G.A., 1977, Reinterpretation of the intensity data for the 1886 Charleston, South Carolina, earthquake, in, Rankin, D.W., ed., Studies elated to the Charleston, South Carolina earthquake of 1886 a preliminary report: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1028, p. 17 32. https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1028/report.pdf, Doar, W.R., III, 2003, Geologic map of the Beaufort quadrangle, Beaufort County, South Carolina: South Carolina Geological Survey, Geologic Quadrangle Map 22, scale 1:24,000. http://www.dnr.sc.gov/geology/publications.htm#gqm22. Around 70% of earthquakes in South Carolina occur in the Coastal Plain. N2YwZjljOWIyZTEzZjU1ZTE1YTE0M2I1MzU5MThiMDMwMDA4MzZjNTg4M2Vh To date, the earthquakes of 1811-1812 remain 1 of the most remarkable seismic events in history. Helpful Links, South Carolina Geological Survey Pictures on the wall move. South Carolina Water Plan SEGSA Presentations This quake was the strongest earthquake ever known to hit the Eastern Seaboard, and it shook so violently that it was felt from Cuba to Bermuda to Chicago and Boston. South Carolinians need to realize that South Carolina faces the possibility of the occurrence of a strong quake having its epicenter within our borders. TheGreat Earthquakeof 1886 almost certainly erupted from the convergence of one of those webs. MDYxNjlhMjg2NjkwMTg3MmQ1ZjlkNjI2ZmRlOTU2YmJhN2NjN2VkOTE5NDg5 Dishes, windows broken. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. The unusually long earthquake swarm in the Midlands area has understandably led to a lot of questions and speculation, said State Geologist Scott Howard, with the S.C. Geological Survey under SCDNR. Damage is total, and nearly all works of construction are damaged greatly or destroyed. Safely bring the car to a stop and turn on the radio for emergency broadcasts. Twenty-seven years after the 1886 Charleston earthquake, another strong earthquake occurred in South Carolina. The 1886 Charleston earthquake occurred about 9:50 p.m. local time August 31. Damage is slight to moderate in well-built buildings. Tap/click on "gear icon" for options and settings. MDJmNmIwYjYzMWYxOThjNmIyNDJjNDM3NzM0MWE2ZDE4ZjIwNWEyYzNkNzcz Lakes are dammed, waterfalls formed, and rivers are deflected. Most people indoors feel movement. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. If a magnitude 5.0 were to occur in Columbia, approximately 400 buildings would sustain slight or moderate damage with a total loss of $310 million.. In South Carolina, geologists have recently discovered evidence of at least five large paleoearthquakes during the past 5,000 years (Amick and Gelinas, 1991). "The plane can literally pick up these subtle differences (in the rock) and map them out," said College of Charleston geologist Scott Harris. For the next few months, however, a twin-propeller plane is flying grids from Kingstree to Edisto Beach with an antenna sticking out from its tail like a stinger. Given the necessary conditions, a magnitude 5.5 quake can generate liquefaction features that could cause damage to existing facilities and property. Earthquake Notification Service Generated by Wordfence at Thu, 2 Mar 2023 0:56:37 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString());. The coastal area around Charleston is particularly vulnerable to quakes. The centers more localized report is set to be released in March. Historic Earthquakes Throughout the 20th century shifting along the San Andreas fault in California caused numerous damaging. Temporary or permanent changes may occur in springs and wells; sand and mud are ejected in small amounts. If possible, get under a sturdy table, desk, or bed, or stand in a doorway. Columbia, SC 29212 For more information, contact the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Communications Office by emailing Newsdesk@dnr.sc.gov. Some of South Carolinas leading geologists have authored a report exploring the factors behind recent earthquakes in the Elgin area, an effort to help the public understand what is happening and why. There was minimal damage and no deaths, but shock waves were felt as far away as Georgia and parts of Virginia.According to the Department of Natural Resources, The majority of earthquakes worldwide occur at plate boundaries when plates stick and then jump past each other. All rights reserved. This was the first seismic activity in South Carolina since two earthquakes a 2.4 magnitude quake east of . MTk2OGRiMGVkZTAzZjA0NGFkNWZlNDQ0NGExNzBlMmUxZDJlZDE5NGUxNjMx Intensity is a numerical index describing the effects of an earthquake on the surface of the Earth, on man, and on structures built by man. The violent tremors went on for a full minute and the quake measured a magnitude 7.6. [citation needed]. An earthquake is the violent shaking of the Earth caused by a sudden movement of rock beneath its surface. YzE0ZDk2ZjE2N2VmYTk3YjJlMmY5Zjk0NTc3ZTgyNTUyYTFkM2MwMGY5OGY0 Mineral Resources The intensities shown on the map below are the highest likely under the most adverse geologic conditions. The earthquake and its aftershocks caused damage to buildings in cities such as Savannah and Augusta, GA, as well as Columbia, SC, all of which reside more than 100 miles from Charleston. Major damage occurred as far away as Tybee Island, Georgia, which is more than 60 miles away. 38, No. The geologists, from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey, the University of South Carolina and College of Charleston, sought to explain the concept of earthquake swarms, the numbers of earthquakes that have been experienced in the Elgin area during the past seven months, the difference between magnitude and intensity when measuring seismic events and why the earthquakes have been occurring so frequently along the Interstate 20 corridor between Elgin and Lugoff. It was felt over a 2.5 million square mile area, from Cuba to New York and Bermuda to the Mississippi River.Twenty-seven years after the 1886 Charleston earthquake, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook Union County on Jan. 1, 1913. MDkzNzYxZTdmNTY2N2FlOTNmZjBmNmY4ZjQxNjZlNjFkYjQ5NTNhZWVmMjFi Walls and frames of structures creak. The first quake, a magnitude 3.3, was the largest and felt as far away as Columbia. Large amounts of rock may move. NmY2NjczNDMyZTlmN2M5N2M2MWU5NDU3N2FhMDFhZTc4ZDcwNzk2MTc1YzM5 M2Y4MjY5ZjYxMDVjYTRlMDgyYjZhZDMwYjQxYzcwMThlNTA5YmQ4YmZhYjEy Users can explore the map's simplified geologic units of the state's geology that were created by generalizing more detailed, larger scale information. These quakes often are the ones that are the most destructive and well understood in terms of plate tectonics. Buried pipelines are rendered completely useless. [14], After the initial earthquake, for the next 30 years, there were 435 total aftershocks from the earthquake. . The South Carolina Emergency Management Division encourages all residents to stay informed about and be prepared for earthquake activity in the state. Windows crack in some cases. Unlike more traditionally earthquake prone regions like the West Coast of the U.S, the reason behind earthquakes in South Carolina is a little more unlcear. This areas has seen many quakes since late last year. Destruction! Check for injuries to others and provide assistance as needed. Life's Better Studying these faults is difficult since many of the most previously active faults are buried deep in sediment across the coastal plain. Project chief Mark Petersen said parts of Washington, Oregon, Utah, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming and Tennessee moved into the top two hazard zones.Parts of 16 states have the highest risk of earthquakes: Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky and South Carolina.The South Carolina Emergency Management Division says the state generally experiences 15 to 20 earthquakes a year, though many are weak enough to be imperceptible.In February, there was a 4.1 magnitude earthquake that was felt across the Upstate. N2RkODJlNDk5Y2I5YzIxYzM5NTQ1OTFkYjVhZTMxMDRmNmI4YmY3NDYxY2U0 Copyright 2019 WCSC. OTgwODMyNWM3MmFhNjc2ZjkwY2NhYjlkNTVjZWQ0MGE3NjExZWVjMTcxZGRj Much of that state's coastal area is at risk. It was reported to have been a 4.1 earthquake, which is rare for South Carolina. Dishes, windows, and doors rattle. We have a stock of older buildings that were not built for earthquakes, whereas out west, they have a lot less of that, simply because they happen more often. ZjU2YmI4OGE3YmM4OTg4ZGM2YzQyMDJiMGQ3YzUzNmJlM2NjNDBmYTJiYmUx YzM0NzEwNjhlZTliZmJhOGNkNjI0NzQxZGQ5OWMzZTU0YjcxMTk1ZmZlM2U5 Your access to this site was blocked by Wordfence, a security provider, who protects sites from malicious activity. NDU1NjQ3Y2M5NjJmZmY3YThjODQzNjMxYzFlY2NhZDVkZTdlNWNiYmRjYmZj Provided, A magnetic sensor sticking out from the tail of a survey plane picks up readings from rock underground to map earthquake faults. When an earthquake occurs on one of these faults, the rock on one side of the fault slips with respect to the other. Links The Lowcountry Hazards Center is studying how earthquakes would create those impacts. That could make a difference in how people prepare everything from site-specific building codes to managing groundwater supplies. The last earthquake with a magnitude higher than 3.0 reported in the state was on Sept. 9, with a 3.3-magnitude earthquake near Charleston, according to the USGS. ZDQxMmRkNjkyNTExMzJiMDEwZWMzY2Q1YmUyMDRjZDY2YjIwYjE5ZDJjZmUz ODU3OGNiYWNhNTNhOTkwZDFjNmE1ZWFiNWUyNGQzNzM2YWVkNjIxYjIwYmNi People have difficulty standing. Earthquake StoryMap Major Historical Earthquakes Charleston earthquake of 1886 Most people had gone to bed by 9:51 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31, 1886. The most infamous and damaging of all South Carolina earthquakes happened in Charleston on the night of Aug. 31, 1886. The 1886 Charleston earthquake occurred in the Charleston, S.C., seismic zone. All rights reserved. This almighty quake caused extensive damage to the transportation systems in central Alaska. These quakes often are the ones that are the most destructive and well understood in terms of plate tectonics. Aftershocks continued to be felt for weeks after the event. An example of these studies is the map showing where the Coastal Plain is most susceptible to severe ground shaking (Figure 10). NGQxNjhlMTU0MzVjMzQifQ== ODE4M2VjOTcwZGY2ZjA5OWQ2ZWMyYzc3YzIzY2QxNWI5NzRjNWZmMGEwNDNi Continental drift is based on the idea that the continents bumped into, and slid over and under each other and at some later time broke apart. Copyright 2023. ZTYxNWViZmJjMTFmNGFkMGYyZjAzOTRkNzRkNmUxMWQ2M2Q2ODE3YmEzMmJi [6], The most prominent buildings that were destroyed were commercial buildings, while residential buildings sustained significantly less damage. These sorts of maps just remind people and policy makers, as well as planners, that just because it happened a long time ago doesnt mean our risk isnt still here, said Dr. Norman Levine, asst. C. Scott Howard, Ph.D., State Geologist, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources-Geological Survey; Dr. Steven Jaume, Professor, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, College of Charleston; Scott M. White, Ph.D., Director and Professor, South Carolina Seismic Network, School of Earth, Ocean and Environment, University of South Carolina; Dr. Pradeep Talwani, Professor Emeritus, School of the Earth Ocean & Environment, University of South Carolina. 3.0 - 3.9: Vibrations similar to a truck passing. Total building loss including capital stock and income losses will exceed $2 billion., When modeling a magnitude 5.3 Charleston earthquake scenario, the report went on to state that the losses and casualties decrease significantly. The top 15 most seismically active and vulnerable states in the US are Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, and Kentucky. Well-built wooden structures are severely damaged and some destroyed. Imagine how bewildered and frightened they must have been as they darted for safety when ceilings gave way and tons of debris rained down about them. OWEzNzFjZjFjMjk1OTljOWU5NTc0YmQ0NjM2ZTkwYTg2YjVkYzZjZWVhYTZh Mjk2OWMwZjlmMmRmNzkzNjAxZGFjYzBmNTAxYWNmMGMxNjRjNjM2YzY3ZTk2 OWM4MGE1ZTJkOGVjYTU0YmE2ZWZlMTMwOWY5YTlkOWM2ODRmZmI1YjU5ZWYy South Carolina's quakes are located within a plate rather than at a plate boundary. Read moreHistoric Upstate flour mill set to transform into brewery, food hall, The Post and Courier Provided. This quake was on the afternoon of January 1, 1913, at 1:28 p.m. near the town of Union in Union County with an estimated magnitude of 5.5 (Figure 1). Disgraced former attorney Alex Murdaugh is a gifted liar who spent a decade concealing his true identity as a white-collar thief and opioid addict, prosecutor Creighton Waters told a Colleton County jury during his three-hour closing argument March 1. Some sand and gravel stream banks cave in. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. "An earthquake is simply when a fault moves and a fault is a crack in the ground, so basically you have the ground on both sides of the crack moving, relative to each other and that's what. There will actually be a range of intensities within any small area such as a town or county, with the highest intensity generally occurring at only a few sites. Charleston, SC 29403, News tips/online questions: newstips@postandcourier.com, Delivery/subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com, var html = new Date().getFullYear(); Hydrology Section South Carolina's quakes are located within a plate rather than at a plate boundary. and Bollinger, G.A., 1990, Forecasting damaging earthquakes in the Central and Eastern United States: Science, v. 249, p. 1412-1416. Wood frame structures are severely damaged, especially near epicenters. 3, p. 18. In South Carolina, approximately 70 percent of the earthquakes occur in the Coastal Plain and most are clustered around three areas west and north of Charleston: Ravenel-Adams Run-Hollywood, Middleton Place-Summerville, and Bowman. Flood Mitigation Program NzhmOWMyNWFmODI2MmY0ZTYyYWQzYjJlNzU5OTE4OTBmMzViZDQxYzgyNzQ0 When will the next strong quake occur? This event is significant because it demonstrates that large, destructive earthquakes can strike the Piedmont region. All rights reserved. Chimneys fall, as well as factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. MjQ1MzRkNWFhM2QyM2E4MzZlNGFhOWM1YzNkMjU3ZjljZDE5YWI4NjQzMGY5 Rocks respond to stress (squeezed or pulled apart) near the Earth's surface by breaking, and when rocks move along either side of a fracture, it is called a fault. Photo Galleries The ground liquefied in many spots which further damaged many buildings, roads, bridges, and farm fields. Many building owners added earthquake bolts to existing unreinforced masonry buildings in order to add support to the structure to avoid having to demolish it because of instability. NTg2YTQxMGVlY2JmYzhlYmIxOTJiOWM5YjNjZDEzZTk5N2ExZTQxZjE1NGU3 This is the 6th quake since Monday mornings 3.1. This would be about 112 million dollars today. [5] There were at least 60 fatalities. It is one of the most powerful and damaging earthquakes to hit the East Coast of the United States. They literally reverberate. In response to this threat, SCGS has been mapping faults and related geologic structures throughout the state. People do not feel any Earth movement. Perhaps the intraplate quakes felt in South Carolina are the result of stresses transmitted inward from the boundaries of the North American plate. Considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed buildings, old walls, spires and other structures. Survivors saw that many of Charleston's brick and masonry buildings had crumbled to the ground. 148 Williman Street Widespread power failure, transportation disruption and water system issues would follow. SEGSA Presentations 6.0 - 6.9: Partial collapse of buildings not designed for quakes. It caused 60 deaths and $56 million ($165.88million in 2021) in damage to 2,000 buildings in the Southeastern United States. 4.0 - 4.9: Sensation like a heavy truck striking a building. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A new report shows the Lowcountry is one of the only areas along the East Coast at high risk for damage from earthquakes. [3] Amick, D.C., 1990, Paleoliquefaction investigations along the Atlantic seaboard with emphasis on the prehistoric earthquake chronology of Coastal South Carolina: Ph.D. dissertation, University of South Carolina, 204p. In South Carolina, approximately 70 percent of the earthquakes occur in the Coastal Plain and most are clustered around three areas west and north of Charleston: Ravenel-Adams Run-Hollywood, Middleton Place-Summerville, and Bowman. They had no way of knowing that shock waves from a massive quake (see Figure 1), estimated magnitude of 7.6, would throw them out of bed. Earthquakes tend to cluster in other spots in the state, too, including along the Savannah River, where a minor quake near Aiken on Monday likely erupted from a buried fault. This map shows earthquake intensities, by county, based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.