Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 114, No. 17	April 23, 2008

‘Shake, rattle and roll . . .’
Early morning tremor catches county residents unaware

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

There was a ‘whole lot of shaking’ going on, not only in Meade County April 18, but elsewhere in Kentucky and nationally.

From Campbellsville to Louisville and from Detroit to Atlanta, Ga., residents were awakened at 4:37 a.m. by an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale.

The Richter magnitude scale was developed in 1935 by Charles F. Richter of the California Institute of Technology as a mathematical device to compare the size of earthquakes.

The earthquake wasn’t a celebration of the great San Francisco earthquake, despite the fact that event happened at nearly the same time, on the same day, in 1906.

According to the Web site, www.earthquake.usgs.gov, earthquakes registering 6.3 on the scale are ruled as “strong.”

County emergency services director Ron Dodson said he was not made aware of any major damage locally from the incident.

“We’re lucky in that respect,” Dodson said, of the fact no major incidents were reported.

According to Dodson, officials in Jefferson County are following up on residential reports of cracks in bridges and roads.

The inital quake was followed by a second aftershock about 11:14 a..m, Dodson said, with the epicenter near an Illinois town.

“We have had several 2.4, 2.5 and 1.4 Richter reports and some even along the New Madrid fault, so apparently the quake caused some minor tremor activity there,” Dodson said. “The last one though was almost as intense as the first one which came through.”

Dodson said the last tremor which rocked Meade County was in 1968, indicating it ranked a 5.4 on the Richter scale.

As far as the tremors are concerned, Dodson said they could continue for weeks. He said it was hard to predict what the magnitude would be for future events.

Fort Knox community relations specialist Kyle Hodges reported no damage was reported on base.

He did say there were a few reports of damaged brickwork, but upon closer examination, the damage had occurred prior to the tremor.

If residents are indoors during an earthquake, they should stay there, according to the United States Geological Service. Officials advise them to get under a desk or table, hanging onto it, move into a hallway or against an inside wall.

Residents are also advised to stay clear of windows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances, and stay out of the kitchen, since things may fall on you.

Other tips include:

• Don’t run downstairs or outside while the building is shaking.

• If you’re outside, get into the open, away from buildings, power lines, chimneys and falling objects.

• If driving, stop carefully, pulling your vehicle away from other traffic. Don’t stop on or under a bridge, overpass, trees, lights, power lines or signs. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking stops and when resuming driving, watch for pavement breaks, fallen rocks or bumps in the road.

After an earthquake, you should do the following:

• Wear sturdy shoes to avoid injuries from broken glass and debris.

• Check for injuries, covering those injured with blankets to keep warm. Seek medical help for serious injuries.

• Check for hazards, including fire hazards, gas leaks, damaged electrical wirings, downed or damaged utility lines, chimneys or fallen items.

• Check food and water supplies, being sure not to eat or drink anything from open containers near shattered glass.

Click Here to Go Back