Quake Rocks Southern US

[pojo]

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[furluvcats]

Thats amazing...isn't wxsam in Gadson Alabama??

[pojo]

15 km (10 miles) ENE of Fort Payne, Alabama
45 km (25 miles) ESE of Scottsboro, Alabama
50 km (30 miles) NW of Rome, Georgia
245 km (155 miles) NNE of MONTGOMERY, Alabama

Epicenter: Fort Payne, Alabama

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/neic_teak_l.html

[weatherlover427]

:o It was only a 4.9, so that's good. Could have been worse.

[Lindaloo]

I did not feel anything here on the MS Gulf Coast. However my sister in Roswell GA just North of Atlanta was awakened. Still too close for comfort.

[ColdFront77]

Joshua, a 4.9 earthquake in Alabama is more impressive than a 4.9 earthquake in California... because they are less common. You probably wouldn't of felt it like those that felt this one early this morning.

I have easily felt a 3.0 in southeastern Massachusetts because I am not used to these events.

There was a 5.0 (I believe it was) several years ago in Quebec, Canada and I felt it in my house; south of Boston/east of Providence.

[azskyman]

4.9 is a pretty good quake for places other than Cali and AK.

I've felt a couple between 4 and 5 before...and it is a noticable movement.

Before I came to Storm2k, I was told that some of you in the south and east were on shaky ground. I guess this confirms it.

[sunny shine]

I did not feel anything here in the Florida Panhandle either. If I slept through it then my Mom has been right all these years. :o

[Stormsfury]

(Repost - From USA Weather Thread)

South Carolina experiences earthquakes, particularly in Charleston on a regular basis. However, the 4.9 magnitude quake this morning on the GA/AL Border is stronger than any quake in South Carolina since the August 31st, 1886 Charleston Earthquake (which measured anywhere from 6.9 to 7.7 depending on the source of information)

East Coast Quakes aren't talked about a lot, however, it's a silence danger that needs to be addressed .. A strong quake in the West doesn't travel out as far (due to topography and mountains being able to absorb the P and S waves of an earthquake) ... However, the Eastern U.S. (is a lot like Mexico City in regards to ground layout) ... A major earthquake will basically cause the ground to liquify (a process called liquefaction) and basically turns the ground into quicksand (not to mention the shallow water table)... plus the P and S waves spread out much farther than West Coast Earthquakes ... more damage in a wider area ... For Example, the Charleston, SC, Earthquake in 1886 cracked sidewalks in Chicago, IL and as felt as far away as Missouri, Cuba, and Bermuda.

http://www.stormsfury1.com/Earthquake.html
EAST COAST EARTHQUAKES FROM 1973-2000

[M2]

Liquifaction will not occur unless the water table is very high and close to the surface in conjunction with mostly unconsolidated soils such as sand and fine particles (not clay, shale or bedrock). Plus the ground shaking must be sustainable in duration and intense enough for the local soils to sink.

BTW Stormsfury, cool avatar.