Quake Rocks Southern US
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2003 2:43 pm
Rare Quake shakes the South
Tue, Apr. 29, 2003 9:11 AM ET
By the Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) A rare earthquake shook parts of the South early Tuesday, rattling windows and awakening nervous residents but causing no reports of serious damage.
The quake, which had a preliminary magnitude of 4.9, struck around 5 a.m. and was centered near Fort Payne, Alabama, close to the Georgia line.
The quake was felt in seven states, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Emergency officials said they had not heard any reports of serious damage.
James Samples of Sylvania, Alabama, about 10 miles north of Fort Payne, said when he awoke, "I thought somebody had run through my trailer. It was pretty strong up here."
He said his trailer was not damaged and that others had pictures knocked off walls and dishes broken.
The same was true in Atlanta, about 160 miles from the epicenter.
"My whole house shook. I could feel the whole wave go north to south," said Barry Goodno, a Georgia Tech structural engineering professor who specializes in earthquakes. "Everything was rattling through the room. It was not what I expected in Georgia.
"It's the kind of motion that could weaken structures or cause further damage," Goodno said. "It's not something to be overlooked. This could be a precursor, it could be a one-time release of energy, it could be an indication of things to come for several weeks."
Carolyn Parker of Gadsden, Alabama, says the earthquake lasted about 45 seconds and woke her up.
"My husband jumped out of bed," she told WSB-TV. "He said he thought it was like the end of the world or something. He ran outside."
Nick Jebeles of Remlap, Ala., said he and his wife also were awakened.
"I went out on my back porch because I thought it was a tornado, but the weather was fine," he said.
In Kentucky, state police said callers reported the tremor lasted from seven to eight seconds. In Tennessee, reports came from people in several counties, reporting that the quake was felt as a shudder and heard as a low rolling, like thunder.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Tue, Apr. 29, 2003 9:11 AM ET
By the Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) A rare earthquake shook parts of the South early Tuesday, rattling windows and awakening nervous residents but causing no reports of serious damage.
The quake, which had a preliminary magnitude of 4.9, struck around 5 a.m. and was centered near Fort Payne, Alabama, close to the Georgia line.
The quake was felt in seven states, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Emergency officials said they had not heard any reports of serious damage.
James Samples of Sylvania, Alabama, about 10 miles north of Fort Payne, said when he awoke, "I thought somebody had run through my trailer. It was pretty strong up here."
He said his trailer was not damaged and that others had pictures knocked off walls and dishes broken.
The same was true in Atlanta, about 160 miles from the epicenter.
"My whole house shook. I could feel the whole wave go north to south," said Barry Goodno, a Georgia Tech structural engineering professor who specializes in earthquakes. "Everything was rattling through the room. It was not what I expected in Georgia.
"It's the kind of motion that could weaken structures or cause further damage," Goodno said. "It's not something to be overlooked. This could be a precursor, it could be a one-time release of energy, it could be an indication of things to come for several weeks."
Carolyn Parker of Gadsden, Alabama, says the earthquake lasted about 45 seconds and woke her up.
"My husband jumped out of bed," she told WSB-TV. "He said he thought it was like the end of the world or something. He ran outside."
Nick Jebeles of Remlap, Ala., said he and his wife also were awakened.
"I went out on my back porch because I thought it was a tornado, but the weather was fine," he said.
In Kentucky, state police said callers reported the tremor lasted from seven to eight seconds. In Tennessee, reports came from people in several counties, reporting that the quake was felt as a shudder and heard as a low rolling, like thunder.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
