Most people don't think of South Carolina as an earthquake zone. But, it is. Seismic activity above 2.0 on the Richter scale has been measured more than 71 times since 1973 -- and this leaves out many of the lesser tremors that get measured by gauges but which humans tend not to notice.
The South Carolina Earthquake Education and Preparedness Program (SCEEP) has an excellent article "Why does South Carolina Have Earthquakes?" posted online.
Geologically, Charleston lies in one of the most seismically active areas in the Eastern United States. The seismicity in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina clusters around the cities of Summerville and Bowman, SC, known as the Middleton Place - Summerville Seismic Zone (MPSSZ).
Q: What is the Great ShakeOut?
A: It’s an earthquake drill.
South Carolina, along with states located in the central United States and Georgia, will participate in an earthquake drill on April 28, 2011 at 10:15 a.m. This means that wherever you are at that moment—at home, at work, at school, anywhere—you should Drop, Cover, and Hold On as if there were a major earthquake occurring at that very moment and stay in the position for at least 60 seconds.
Q: Who can participate?
A: Everyone can register to participate in the drill—individuals, families, social groups, companies, organizations, religious affiliates, etc. Sign up on South Carolina’s Great Shake-Out page!
Want to play a game and learn good earthquake preparedness tips at the same time? "Beat the Quake" allows you to learn how to secure items before the quake hits. (To tell you the truth, I only got about 85% of the answers correct the first time through the game!)
The SCEMD Facebook page has an embedded 1 minute, 42 second video "Prepare Your Home, Prepare Yourself" that includes images from the Charleston Earthquake. You can also see the video on YouTube.
As of 4.25.2011, The South Carolina Emergency Management Division twittered that 213K people have registered to participate in the Great US Shakeout set for April 28th at 10:15 AM.
Even if you decide not to actively participate in the drill, please read the
Earthquake Guide Index for information about emergency preparedness, the Charleston Earthquake of 1886, and how to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On."
The Great Shakeout is Coming!
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