ATLANTA — A new U.S. Geological Survey study shows more than 4.5 million Georgians are at risk for potential damaging ground shaking.
Tellus Science Museum's Executive Director Jose Santamaria explains the increased probability is a combination of an increasing population and Georgia's unique terrain that was created millions of years ago.
"Different rock formations were smashed at one time, one after the other. The junctures between them are earthquake faults," explains Santamaria.
One of those faults runs right through the heart of the Metro, called the Brevard fault. While that particular fault has been inactive for more than 300 million years, Santamaria explains that many are still active across north Georgia. "Those, once in a while, slip and create minor earthquakes," he says. "It's not going to be in the movies when the whole town shakes. But it's enough that you feel a rumble in the ground, maybe like a jackhammer next door."
Every earthquake, big and small, in north Georgia and around the world is tracked on the Tellus seismograph by geologist and curator Sarah Timm.
Timm says that one of the most earthquake-prone areas nearby is Charleston, South Carolina, where one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the southeastern U.S. occurred Aug. 31, 1886, with a magnitude 6.3 to 7.3. If there's a big earthquake in the Charleston area, It could very well be felt it in north Georgia.
As for preparation, Santamaria says not to worry. "Don't worry about it. You're more likely to drop a dish and break it on your kitchen floor than to have dishes rattle and broken by an earthquake here in Georgia," he says.
If anyone thinks they felt an earthquake, call the Tellus Science Museum at (770) 606-5700, and they'll confirm it using their seismograph.
If it's afterhours, the best and quickest way to reach Tellus is on Facebook or Twitter @tellusmuseum, or report it to the USGS by clicking here.
WSBTV
