Two earthquakes hit central Alabama in early November, so should we expect more?

Montgomery, Alabama (WSFA) – Two earthquakes shook parts of central Alabama last weekend. Both are rated at 2.4 on the Richter scale, which is considered minor.

One hit northwest of downtown Clanton, and the other hit northwest of Utahn in rural Green County. Neither of them felt either, but they definitely scored.

Two earthquakes measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale hit central Alabama in early November this year (WSFA 12 News)

With it happening on consecutive days, does that mean we should expect more in the near future? Is this normal here in Alabama?

While it’s not necessarily rare for earthquakes—especially small ones—to occur in our state, it is a little unusual to have two strikes on consecutive days. Back in the late 1800s, Alabama recorded 399 earthquakes. That’s good at only three per year.

This is just the average number. You can have years with less, you can have years with more and you can have years with more than three earthquakes across the state.

For example, we only have two so far in 2021, but we’ve seen eight in 2020 and 17 again in 2019. Each year is different on its own. There is simply no pattern of earthquake activity in Alabama and the Deep South.

We see about 3 earthquakes per year in Alabama. (WSFA 12 News)

The two who hit Central Alabama last weekend were on the weaker end of the spectrum, but that’s not always the case. Alabama was affected by earthquakes of magnitude 5.2, 4.9 and 4.6. Those incidents occurred in Arundale, Escambia County, and Fort Payne, respectively.

Once you get close to 3.5 and above on the Richter scale, people are more likely to feel an earthquake. There can be instances of damage when approaching 4.5 and above. This is especially true near the epicenter.

The reason behind the earthquake activity in Alabama is the presence and impact of two different seismic zones. The Southern Appalachian Seismic Zone causes earthquakes across the northern half of the state, while the Bahamas Seismic Zone directly causes earthquakes in southwest Alabama.

Even with nearly 400 earthquakes since the late 19th century, there are areas across the southeast with much higher seismic intensity. This includes northern Georgia, eastern Tennessee, South Carolina, and the New Madrid seismic zone along the Mississippi River.

Seismic activity is highest in North Alabama and Southwest Alabama (WSFA 12 News)

Each of these sites sees much more earthquakes than us in Alabama because of where they are located in relation to seismic zones.

These are also the locations where the “biggest” earthquakes strike; Those with intensities of 5, 6, 7 and 8. They are those types of earthquakes that can cause significant and noticeable damage and cause a much larger area to shake.

Do we deserve the “big” in the New Madrid region? And what happens in Alabama if that happens?

“The historical record and estimated probabilities of earthquakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) suggest that we must be prepared and plan for a large-scale NMSZ event,” says Sandy Ebersol of the Alabama Geological Survey.

Determining exactly when we will see a major earthquake in that region is impossible, but the chances of it occurring in the next century are very high. I asked Ebersole what the repercussions of such an event would be for Alabama…

“North to central Alabama will experience shaking from a strong (magnitude 6.0 or greater) NMSZ earthquake, with minor damage likely in northern Alabama from a 7.0+ NMSZ event.”

Copyright 2021 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos