Emergency Management Enhances Earthquake Preparedness Week

South Carolina officials have declared Oct. 12-18 Earthquake Preparedness Week and are urging residents to review safety plans and better understand seismic risks in the area.

Although earthquakes may not be top of mind for many South Carolinians, earthquakes are more common than most people realize, with 10 to 20 events occurring each year.

The majority of these earthquakes are not severe enough for humans to detect, but sometimes a more significant event can be felt or even heard.

There are many ways to measure the size of an earthquake, but most assessments are based on the amount of energy released by the earthquake's source.

Their magnitude ranges from 0 to greater than 9.0, although earthquakes considered to be higher than 9.0 occur approximately once every 100 years.

Since the beginning of the year, seismometers have detected more than two dozen earthquakes in South Carolina, most of which occurred in the Midlands.

The strongest quake was a magnitude 3.0 near Greenwood, powerful enough to shake windows, knock pictures off walls, and unnerve nearby residents.

To prepare South Carolinians for the possibility of a significant event, the South Carolina Division of Emergency Management is leading a statewide campaign, which includes participating in a global safety drill scheduled for Thursday, October 16, at 10:16 a.m.

During the training, participants will be encouraged to get down, cover and hold steady — key actions first responders emphasize to help residents stay safe during an earthquake.

Additionally, the South Carolina Department of Insurance urges property owners to check their insurance policies to see if seismic activity is covered.

The agency says coverage can be added to an existing policy or purchased separately, with staff available to assist residents at 803-737-6180.

SCEMD also recommends that residents build emergency kits that contain food, water, flashlights and first aid supplies, and make sure heavy items are properly secured.

Earthquake Intensity by County Map Why are earthquakes common in the Palmetto State

Most earthquakes around the world occur along tectonic plate boundaries, but South Carolina lies well within the interior of the North American plate.

According to seismologists, earthquakes that occur within a plate are known as intraplate earthquakes.

The theory most widely accepted by seismologists is that ancient fault systems lie beneath the surface and are occasionally reactivated due to regional stress.

According to SCEMD, about 70% of the state's earthquakes occur in the Middleton Place-Somerville Seismic Zone, located northwest of Charleston.

The area was the epicenter of one of the strongest earthquakes on the East Coast – a magnitude 6.9 to 7.3 that occurred on August 31, 1886.

The catastrophic earthquake damaged or destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, toppled church towers and claimed dozens of lives.

At the time, damage was estimated at $5 million to $10 million, but experts say if a similar earthquake occurred today, total losses could exceed $20 billion, with hundreds dead.

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Damage from the historic 1886 earthquake in Charleston, South Carolina

University of South Carolina Libraries

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Damage along Broad Street in South Carolina following the 1886 earthquake.

South Carolina Geological Survey

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