Small Earthquake Reported Saturday Morning Near Leesburg

Cherokee County experienced a small earthquake Saturday morning near Leesburg.

County EMA Director Shawn Rogers says he was notified by Alabama EMA and the United States Geological Survey on Monday morning about the earthquake. According to the USGS the epicenter of the 1.9 magnitude earthquake was located 1.2 miles south of Leesburg near Sawyers Nursery and registered at 3.28 miles deep. he says that while this earthquake was small and no effects were felt or seen, this is a reminder of how quick a natural disaster can occur.

Rogers says the epicenter of this earthquake was only about 2 miles from Weiss Dam and if the earthquake would have been stronger the damage could have been catastrophic.

The Cherokee County region sits on fault lines associated with the Appalachian Mountains and has a history of small earthquakes.  Earthquakes are fairly common in the eastern half of the United States. Four zones of frequent earthquake activity affecting Alabama are the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the Southern Appalachian Seismic Zone, the South Carolina Seismic Zone, and the Bahamas Fracture Seismic Zone.

Director Rogers pointed out that most of the earthquakes we experience in Alabama are associated with the Southern Appalachian Seismic Zone (which is an extension of the East Tennessee Seismic Zone) that runs along the Appalachian Mountains from the northeastern corner into the central part of the state and the Bahamas Fracture Seismic Zone in southern Alabama.

https://www.facebook.com/CherokeeCountyEMA/

 

 

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email
Share on print
Print