Monday, September 27, 2021, three small earthquakes were confirmed in the Summerville area—2.8 magnitude at 12:49 pm; 2.0 magnitude at 12:57 pm; and the strongest, 3.3 magnitude at 6:21 pm.
South Carolina experiences between 10-20 earthquakes per year with smaller earthquakes causing little to no damage happening once or twice a year near the coast.
These small earthquakes are a reminder that Charleston is in an earthquake zone. In 1886, an earthquake with a magnitude estimated between 6.9 and 7.3 caused 100 deaths and damage to about 7,000 buildings.
The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill will take place Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 10:21 am. This safety drill is part of an international effort in which participants simultaneously practice how to stay safe during an earthquake — “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”. For most people, in most situations, this means to:
- DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees;
- COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand, as you crawl for shelter under a nearby table or desk;
- HOLD ON to your shelter with one hand until shaking stops (remain on your knees and covering your head and neck with your other arm and hand).
To learn more about this effort to make us earthquake aware and safe, click here.
SC Emergency Management Division has also published a guide that discusses SC’s fault system, what an earthquake in SC would look like today, pet behavior in an earthquake, and much more. Click here to read or download the guide.
–Tidelines Editors