East Coast Earthquake 8-23-2011

Tue Aug 23 22:04:34 UTC 2011

On 08/23/2011 02:48 PM, Owen DeLong wrote:
> A 5.8 (or 5.9, I've seen conflicting numbers) really isn't likely to do all
> that much damage, even on the East Coast. In California, anyone who
> has lived here for more than 10 years probably doesn't even feel
> anything less than a 5, and, it takes a solid 6 to really get anyone's
> attention out here. Natives mostly won't change their behavior for
> anything short of a 6.5.
>
> I would presume that on the East Coast where you have a lot more
> masonry construction you might see some minor building damage
> and a few cracked walls here and there, but it's unlikely to sever
> any underground utilities or take out any facilities.
>
> I suspect the voice network is overwhelmed because it's probably
> a newsworthy event in that area, but that will probably die down
> in a few hours after everyone finally reaches their loved ones and
> hears that everyone is OK, but, boy wasn't that exciting…
>    

Raw magnitude is not a great indicator of shaking intensity.
Our rocks are much more fractured out here on the west coast
due to earthquakes, etc. A 5.9 back east is nothing to sniff at.

Mike, not a geologist

> Owen
>
> On Aug 23, 2011, at 12:10 PM, Chris wrote:
>
>    
>> A friend about 80 miles near the epicenter says phones are down but
>> Comcast Internet, by way of some miracle, is up
>>      
>    