Earthquake measured at 3.2 on Richter scale shakes Dorchester
By Schuyler Kropf
Updated 09:57 a.m., August 29, 2009
Residents of Dorchester County were jolted this morning by an earthquake.
The quake measured 3.2 on the Richter scale.
Erin Beutel, associate professor of geology at the College of Charleston and director of the S.C. Earthquake Education and Preparedness Program, said the quake is considered mild and in line with the hiccups routinely seen in the Summerville area.
She compared it to nothing greater than the jolt you may feel of a train going by a house. She expected damage to be minimal, if at all.
"We have a couple to several of these a year," she said, adding she does not expect this to be a signal of anything stronger to come.
But she did say this bump could be a reason for the public to understand that earthquake preparedness should be something everyone should at least plan for.
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dgibby (anonymous) says...
According to RSOE EDIS, an international disaster tracking web site, the earthquake was a 3.2.
Link:http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index.php?smp=&lang=eng
I live in Ladson, was still in bed when it hit. I heard a low rumbling sound (like thunder) and the bed shook (vibrated) for several seconds.
Interesting, though, my dogs and cats did not respond at all.
As far as I know, there was no damage.
August 29, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
metallic (anonymous) says...
I was sleeping late, but half-awoke from the shaking here in the Historic District in Summerville. It jolted my wife completely awake, and she asked me what had happened -- to which I had to reply, I didn't have a clue, but "earthquake" did cross my mind.
Looking around this morning, I see no damage.
I really worry about how the foundations on the old structures around here will crumble if (when?) the "big one" hits.
That will be a mess.
August 29, 2009 at 9:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
IronWoman (anonymous) says...
Just because people don't run to the phone and call the dispatch office doesn't mean people didn't feel the earthquake. We felt it quite strong in Summerville. No doubt, no one has to confirm it for us, ... it WAS an earthquake!
August 29, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sweetpnsc77 (anonymous) says...
I live in summerville, and I was jolted in my sleep. My bed shook, and so did the funrniture, along with a Boom! It was at 6:28a.m. I believe. I thought to myself, it had to of been another earthquake, because I have felt and heard the other two since last September. Im starting to be a pro of what they sound like. Had to get up, just now, and check the paper to see if I was right. Indeed, I was.
August 29, 2009 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
armymom (anonymous) says...
I live in an apt downtown S'ville and it woke me out of a dead sleep. It felt like a bulldozer hit the building. I remember thinking 'wow, was that another little earthquake?' and went right back to sleep.
Now I know I didn't dream it.
August 29, 2009 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dgibby (anonymous) says...
An addendum to my previous post. I have lived in Ladson since 1987, and have carried earthquake insurance the entire time. If you don't have it, I would strongly urge you to consider it, as your normal homeowners insurance policy does no cover earthquake damage.
I realize most of the quakes we get are small, but don't forget, Charleston was partially leveled in 1886 by one of the strongest quakes (7.3) to ever hit the Southern US.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/s...
It only takes one big one to destroy everything.
August 29, 2009 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mamaduck4 (anonymous) says...
so...... now South Carolina is going to fall off into the sea, just like California? Earthquakes happen, I grew up in CA and it is still not gone....yet!
August 29, 2009 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
danz1213 (anonymous) says...
Actually we here in California are convinced that when the BIG one hits, everything east of the California border is going to fall into the Atlantic (tongue in cheek). Glad you guys in SC had no damage or injuries. A 3.2 is a good bump indeed.
August 29, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
metallic (anonymous) says...
mamaduck4 posted:
>>>so...... now South Carolina is going to fall off into the sea, just like California? Earthquakes happen, I grew up in CA and it is still not gone....yet!<<<
The earthquakes here are from a different geology than the ones in California. No plates are undercutting South Carolina, so no part of the state is likely to "drop" suddenly below sea level. (Not that that is really a likely scenario for CA, but some have speculated such -- I don't think we'll ever be that lucky!)
August 29, 2009 at 11:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DougHuffman (anonymous) says...
Charleston earthquake of 1886 was an intraplate quake, like the next New Madrid will be - and unlikely.
August 29, 2009 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
anon123 (anonymous) says...
Why is this even newsworthy? A 3.2 is NOTHING. A 4.2 would be 10 times stronger, a 5.2 100 times, a 6.2 1000 times, and a 7.2 10,000 times stronger.
It even made the Drudge Report, which reaffirms my opinion of that steaming pile.
August 29, 2009 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CherDash (anonymous) says...
I was sleeping and it woke me up. I've lived in the Charleston area all my life, and I've lived in Summerville since 1977. This is the biggest earthquake I've ever felt.
August 29, 2009 at 1:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LAReality (anonymous) says...
This is L.A. Reality talking: Once you people in S.Carolina get out that 'comfort zone', maybe you'll wake up. There's an 'overdue' 8.0/9.0 that's been due to hit down there, regardless of what you may 'think'. I've been in 180 'felt' quakes in Los Angeles. 'L.A. fall into the ocean?' That how smart you people are? Use your brain. Get prepared, stay prepared. Quite looking to make 'feel good' comments. S.Carolina was 'leveled' in late 1880s'. And that was ONLY around a 7.3 - wake up people. You'll get the point, sooner or later....
August 29, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
armymom (anonymous) says...
What do you think we should do...move?!
August 29, 2009 at 1:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
voxpopuli (anonymous) says...
definitely move
August 29, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
I think LAR should move and take some others with them... :]
Wifey felt it I slept right through it.
August 29, 2009 at 3:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandy05 (anonymous) says...
I bought earthquake insurance when I purchased my home a number of years ago. Guess what!!! In the JUNK pages the insurance company sent me on one of the renewals a few years ago which I did not read it said they had cancelled my earthquake insurance WITHOUT CONSULTING ME! The premium of course had increased and I just assumed my coverage had not been changed. When I called they gave me some explanation that did not make sense. Something to the effect that I would have to seek earthquake insurance somewhere else!!!!! This is a well known company that has also increased wind and hail deductible and made it mandatory for a response or they would cancel and not renew. I am not even in a flood zone. My home is on a crawlspace (not a slab) also.
HOW CAN THEY LEGALLY CANCEL ONE'S EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE and hide it in the tiny print which we older folks have difficulty reading anyway??
This was about the time that the coastal insurance crisis after hurricanes caused them to cancel a lot of folks's insurance, give them a year to get other coverage, etc.
I doubt that the SC Insurance Commission would have any answers or even concerns about earthquake insurance being cancelled after a number of years without any notice except small print hidden in pages and pages of JUNK information.
August 29, 2009 at 3:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
torde2u (anonymous) says...
Sandy05, Have you tried State Farm Insurance? or any other insurance companies beside the one that cancelled? I included earthquake insurance with my new home last year with no problems, just an additional premium over and above my regular homeowner's insurance. I am not one to waste money and I would never spend the $ if I didnt know that it is not a matter of "IF"an earthquake of sizable magnitute will hit here, it is a matter of WHEN.
August 29, 2009 at 5:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jhb2 (anonymous) says...
I was walking around downstairs during this morning's 3.2 magnitude tremor in my hometown of Summerville. I thought the boys upstairs had dropped some heavy object and I said, "What the h*ll was that!"
I survived the 1964 Good Friday Alaskan earthquake that "had a magnitude of 9.2, at the time making it the second largest earthquake in the recorded history of the world... Over 10,000 aftershocks were recorded following the main shock. In the first day alone, eleven major aftershocks were recorded with a magnitude greater than 6.0. Nine more occurred over the next three weeks. It was not until eighteen months later that the aftershocks were no longer noticed." (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Ala...).
It forced us to move from Anchorage, AK to Boston, MA due to a thoroughly destroyed home and endless trauma. Today's Summerville quake was equivalent to 75 tons of TNT versus 91,000,000,000 (or 91 billion) tons of TNT during the 1964 Alaskan earthquake making the latter approximately 1.2 billion times more powerful. At the time we thought that it was a nuclear attack from the Russians.
August 29, 2009 at 6:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bootsey (anonymous) says...
I have an 86 year old Aunt that lives in a retirement home in Summerville. I called her at 9:00 to check on her..she didn't know the quake had occurred..she heard the noise but thought one of the other residents had dropped something, so she went back to sleep..lol
August 29, 2009 at 6:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mon_Kie (anonymous) says...
"earthquake preparedness should be something everyone should at least plan for"
Good luck there!
Many homeowners' insurance companies have quit carrying earthquake insurance.
I had it for 17 years, and my insurance company decided they wouldn't offer it anymore.
August 29, 2009 at 8:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gamecockcock (anonymous) says...
that was an earthquake? Please don't tell my wife! i thought it was me!
August 29, 2009 at 10:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BeachinIt (anonymous) says...
My, my LA, so harsh. Guess we 'silly' South Carolianians are asleep at the wheel. Being 'unprepared' and all.
Sandy, a word of wisdom on the insurance bit. Insurance companies send out notices to insureds AND agents stating that a particular peril (wind/hail, earthquake, etc) is being excluded in the renewal policy. The insurer is legally required to notify policy changes via writing. And agents, if they're worth their salt, should be contacting you prior to the renewal date to try to give alternatives, regardless of what the exclusion reason is. And, it MAY have been your agent's responsibility to notify you. (It's according to what kind of arrangement the agent has with the insuring company.) The Department of Insurance can help you file a formal complaint against the appropriate person. (After the wind/hail/hurricane fiasco you're talking about, they've opened a huge can of worms, leaving them with more complaints than ever!!) Check out their website.
Good luck!
August 29, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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