Earthquakes In Our Area? We Take A Look At Local Quake History

March 8, 2019

Following a magnitude 2.7 earthquake about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday near Jay, NorthEscambia.com is taking a deeper look at earthquakes in the area over the past three decades.

There have been six earthquakes reported in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida and in Escambia County, Alabama, since 1990, and all of them were within 10 miles of the state line.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the North Escambia area sits on the Bahamas Seismic Zone (the BSZ). Several earthquakes have occurred along this zone in recent years, but most are too weak to be felt by residents. While not a likelihood, the USGS says another significant earthquake could happen in the area at any time.

The last recorded earthquake in Florida was a 5.9 in the Gulf of Mexico felt across much of Florida in September 2006.

At 3:35 a.m. on October 24, 1997, a significant earthquake startled a large number of people in Escambia County, Ala., and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida.  The quake, which measured 4.9 on the Richter scale, was centered near the Little Rock community in Escambia County, Ala., and was felt as far away as Eglin AFB, and Gulfport, Miss. It was the strongest earthquake in the southeast in 30 years. No significant damage was reported.

Four days later, on October 28, 1997, a magnitude 3.0 quake happened a few miles away.  There was also a magnitude3.1 earthquake north of Bratt on May 3, 1997.

The  U.S. Geological Survey classifies earthquake intensities. Here is how the October 24, 1997, earthquake measured up across the area, using intensity level descriptions from the Federal Emergency Management agency:

  • (VII)  Epicenter / Little Rock, Ala.
  • People have difficulty standing. Drivers feel their cars shaking. Some furniture breaks. Loose bricks fall from buildings. Damage is slight to moderate in well-built buildings; considerable in poorly built buildings
  • (VI) Brewton, Canoe and Lambeth
  • Everyone feels movement. People have trouble walking. Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall off walls. Furniture moves. Plaster in walls might crack. Trees and bushes shake. Damage is slight in poorly built buildings. No structural damage.
  • (V) Atmore, Flomaton, Frisco City and Century
  • Almost everyone feels movement. Sleeping people are awakened. Doors swing open or close. Dishes are broken. Pictures on the wall move. Small objects move or are turned over. Trees might shake. Liquids might spill out of open containers
  • (IV) McDavid, Molino and Walnut Hill
  • Most people indoors feel movement. Hanging objects swing. Dishes, windows, and doors rattle. The earthquake feels like a heavy truck hitting the walls. A few people outdoors may feel movement. Parked cars rock.

Pictured below: The U.S. Geological Survey installed a seismic monitoring station just north of Brewton following the 1997 earthquake.

Comments

6 Responses to “Earthquakes In Our Area? We Take A Look At Local Quake History”

  1. Will B Band on March 12th, 2019 6:49 am

    When drilling for natural gas and Oil both the Oil company and the Drilling company know of fault line probably better then USGS . The company’s does not want to cause a major quake they do many surveys before even attempting to drill in an area .Many company’s have learned a small pocket of gas or oil isn’t worth a major loss of property .they actually learn a lesson from deep water Horizion .while it’s easy to point finger and say it’s big Oil if you read the article it is a natural fault line not as big as some of the more famous ones but still a faulty line .

  2. Dennis HE Wiggins on March 11th, 2019 7:38 pm

    Looking back, it may well be the one that occurred on 24 October 1997. I remember that very well, and that would be about the time of day it occurred, too.

  3. Dennis HE Wiggins on March 11th, 2019 7:36 pm

    I remember back in ‘97 or ‘98 there was one in Atmore. I think they still claim it was not an earthquake, but I don’t know what else would wake me up in the middle of the night and cause dishes to fall out of my cabinets!

  4. Dola on March 10th, 2019 12:53 am

    Would be interesting to compare the quakes locations to the local oil and gas fields. Seems odd the closer the fields get to being dry the more quakes we seem to experience.

  5. J.Larry Seale on March 8th, 2019 6:57 pm

    just sitting around waiting for the “big” one
    to hit……………..

  6. CW on March 8th, 2019 10:53 am

    I remember the bigger one back in 1997, it wasn’t a shaking like you see on tv, but rather a sliding side to side feeling. It was definitely a weird experience.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News