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Typically, smaller earthquakes are felt each year or two. East of the
Rockies, an earthquake shakes the ground over an area up to ten times the area typically shaken by a similar magnitude earthquake on the west coast. For example, an eastern magnitude 4.0 earthquake typically can be felt at many locations as far as 100 km (60 mi) from where it occurred, and it might or might not cause damage near its source. An eastern magnitude 5.5 earthquake usually can be felt out to 500 km (300 mi) in most directions and can cause damage out to 40 km (25 miles).
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earthquake on May 19, 1971. Two small shocks, about 3 hours apart, were felt in western South
Carolina July 13, 1971. The main shock at 7:42 a.m. edt was felt over approximately 5,200 square kilometers, including two places in Georgia. The tremor was felt by all in Newry; many were frightened by the loud Earth noises (intensity VI), hanging objects swung violently, and furniture shifted.
313:, and Pierpont in South Carolina and from Augusta, Georgia. The total affected area was about 65,000 square kilometers. The other earthquakes did not exceed intensity V. The epicenter for the March 12, 1960, tremor was off the coast of South Carolina; Augusta, Georgia, and Greensboro, North Carolina, also felt this shock.
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Another earthquake affected the
Summerville area on September 22, 1914. Pictures on walls were displaced (intensity V). The shock was preceded by a noise like a train approaching from a distance. The shock was felt (intensity IV) at Charleston and with less intensity at Augusta, Macon, and Savannah,
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was the apparent center of an
October 20, 1924, earthquake which shook most of South Carolina and western North Carolina, northeastern Georgia, and eastern Tennessee. The area affected was approximately 145,000 square kilometers. Highest intensities were reported at Pickens, Walhalla, Brevard, and
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earthquakes of similar size to the 1886 shock have occurred in coastal South
Carolina at intervals of several centuries to several thousands of years. In recent decades, damaging earthquakes much smaller than that of 1886 have occurred every decade or two, most recently in 2014 (magnitude 4.1).
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on
October 26, 1959. Another shock on April 20, 1964, was felt strongly (intensity V) at Gaston and Jenkinsville. Places in Fairfield, Florence, Lexington, and Richland Counties also reported the tremors. Several windows were broken in Bowman and Orangeburg (intensity V) from a magnitude 3.4
231:. which received significant damage from the August 31 earthquake. Another tremor caused intensity VI effects on November 5 in Charleston and was felt over the same area as the previous aftershocks. The total felt area covered approximately 78,000 square kilometers (30,000 sq mi).
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On Friday, February 14, 2014 at 10:23 p.m., an earthquake occurred in the midlands of SC. The epicenter was located near
Edgefield SC and could be felt all over SC, Georgia, and Western North Carolina. It was reported to have been a 4.1 earthquake, which is rare for South Carolina.
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area was shaken with an intensity VI - VII earthquake about 6 months later (January 1, 1913). At Union, cracks appeared in many brick buildings and many chimneys were damaged. The total felt area, roughly elliptical in shape, covered approximately 111,000 square kilometers.
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experienced a magnitude 4.4 earthquake. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 3.1 miles (5.0 km), 16 miles southeast of
Seabrook Island at 32 degrees 22.0 minutes north (32.366N), 80 degrees. 4.4 minutes west (80.073W). There were no reports of damage or injuries.
92:. Most of the rest of the bedrock formed when the supercontinent rifted apart about 200 million years ago to form what are now the southeastern U.S., the Atlantic Ocean, and Africa. Today the Charleston area is far from the nearest plate boundary, which is in the
164:) that centered within South Carolina occurred near Charleston. A 1924 shock in the western part of the State was felt over 154,000 square kilometers (59,000 sq mi). Several earthquakes outside the State borders were felt strongly in South Carolina.
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occurred 8 minutes later. Six additional shocks followed during the next 24 hours. Few buildings escaped damage and many were totally destroyed. Chimneys of at least 14,000 houses were destroyed. The maximum intensity has been estimated at X.
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The August 31, 1886 Charleston earthquake was initially perceived in that city as a barely perceptible tremor, then a sound like a heavy body rolling along; the sound became a roar, all movable objects began to shake and rattle, and the
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that may be as thick as 3 km (2 miles). Accordingly, few of the area's earthquakes can be linked to known faults. As in most other regions east of the
Rockies, the best guide to earthquake hazards is the earthquakes themselves.
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On
January 23, 1903, houses were shaken strongly (intensity VI) in the area of the South Carolina - Georgia border near Savannah. Intensity IV - V effects were noted at Charleston, III - IV at Columbia, and III at Augusta, Georgia.
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on June 12, 1912. The shock was felt at Charleston with intensity VI and also was felt as far as Brunswick and Macon, Georgia; Greenville, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, an area of about 90,000 square kilometers.
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Moderately strong shocks occurred near Charleston on November 19, 1952, August 3, 1959, March 12, 1960, July 23, 1960, and October 23, 1967. The 1959 disturbance caused minor damage (intensity VI) at Charleston, Summerville, and
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was the largest quake to ever hit the Eastern United States. This earthquake killed at least 60 people and destroyed much of the city. Aftershocks, some of them large enough to be damaging by themselves, continued for years.
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in 1886. Charleston and nearby cities suffered most of the damage, although points as far as 160 kilometers (100 mi) away were strongly shaken. Many of the 20 earthquakes of intensity V or greater
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on April 19, 1907. Dishes rattled and objects were thrown from shelves throughout the 26,000 square kilometer area. A somewhat stronger earthquake caused some damage to chimneys (intensity VII) at
103:, the relation of earthquakes to faults is comparatively well understood. In contrast, in the Charleston area, as in most other parts of the U.S. east of the Rockies, the relation is enigmatic.
192:, also experienced damage. The total area affected by this earthquake covered more than 5 million square kilometers (1.9 million sq mi) and included distant points such as
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An earthquake of January 26, 1860 at 7 p.m., described as "the severest one felt in many years," was felt throughout the state and as far away as Macon, Georgia.
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experienced over 80 earthquakes, 11 of which exceeded a 2.5 magnitude. 6 of the quakes exceeded a 3.0 magnitude, the largest of which registering at a 3.6.
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409:, by Carl W. Stover and Jerry L. Coffman, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, United States Government Printing Office, Washington: 1993.)
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An estimated 60 persons were killed by falling buildings and many more were injured. Within a radius of 160 kilometers (100 mi), the cities of
305:. Chimneys were damaged, plaster cracked and fell, walls cracked, and objects fell from shelves. Cracked plaster was also reported from Columbia,
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575:(2019), "The 15 February 2014 Mw 4.1 South Carolina Earthquake Sequence: Aftershock Productivity, Hypocentral Depths, and Stress Drops",
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Hendersonville, North Carolina. Buildings were shaken, and furniture was overturned (intensity V). A loud roar accompanied the shock.
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were reported on October 22, 1886, and another on November 5. The first of these was felt (intensity VI) in Charleston, at
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became a rude, rapid quiver. The first shock was at 9:51 p.m. and lasted 35 to 40 seconds. A strong
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Daniels, Clara; Peng, Zhigang; Wu, Qimin; Ni, Sidao; Meng, Xiaofeng; Yao, Dongdong; Wagner, Lara S.;
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South Carolina averages 20 earthquakes a year" says research team from College of Charleston.
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on October 20, 1958, and caused minor damage (cracked and fallen plaster - intensity V) at
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and Augusta, Georgia, and at other towns. The second shock was intensity VII in
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is the most seismically active state on the east coast. At 7.3 magnitude, the
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in the area is laced with faults that date mainly from the formation of the
604:. September 1, 1886. Largest Earthquake in South Carolina. Magnitude 7.3.
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Faults in this region are difficult to study at the surface due to thick
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Moderate earthquakes also awakened many residents (intensity V) at
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On July 26, 1945, an earthquake centered in the vicinity of
382:"DHEC answers: Is mining causing the recent earthquakes?"
622:. From the South Carolina Emergency Management Division
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Collins, Jeffrey; Adams, Lisa J. (February 14, 2014).
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Earthquakes in South Carolina and Vicinity 1698–2009
427:"Magnitude 4.4 Seabrook Island, South Carolina 2002"
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Seismicity of the United States, 1568–1989 (Revised)
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Georgia, an area of about 78,000 square kilometers.
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88:about 500-300 million years ago, raising the
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452:von Hake, Carl A. (October 21, 2009).
246:A moderate shock affected Charleston,
608:South Carolina Earthquake Information
524:"4.1-magnitude quake shakes S.C., Ga"
458:South Carolina Earthquake Information
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646:South Carolina history-related lists
53:on top of them. Many of the ancient
641:Natural disasters in South Carolina
620:The South Carolina Earthquake Guide
454:"South Carolina Earthquake History"
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508:. November 12, 2002. WorldNow and
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636:Earthquakes in the United States
212:. All or parts of 30 states and
22:Charleston, SC Earthquake - 1886
346:Valentine's Day earthquake 2014
329:2002 Seabrook Island earthquake
577:Seismological Research Letters
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151:Charleston earthquake or 1886.
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506:South Carolina earthquake
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182:Columbia, South Carolina
162:Mercalli intensity scale
546:SCDNR Geological Survey
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355:Kershaw County Quakes
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157:United States history
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542:"Recent Earthquakes"
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256:Summerville
229:Summerville
221:aftershocks
219:Two strong
124:Earthquakes
69:Prehistoric
57:are within
630:Categories
492:2023-08-09
464:2011-09-15
433:2011-09-15
367:References
174:aftershock
35:Charleston
295:Tennessee
318:Anderson
287:Columbia
252:Savannah
113:Atlantic
391:30 June
311:Meggett
291:Georgia
248:Augusta
225:Atlanta
210:Bermuda
186:Augusta
105:Bedrock
82:bedrock
552:10 May
250:, and
208:; and
170:tremor
59:plates
55:faults
37:area.
386:WISTV
554:2022
510:WECT
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