Earthquake in Maine

[JimB]

The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter of the 4.0 magnitude quake was about 3 miles west of Hollis Center, Maine, and about 3 miles deep. That location is about 20 miles west of Portland.  Source

[Richard Myers]

Earthquakes in diverse places.   4.0 in California is not unusual, but in Maine? We will have to get a report from Wally as to the significance of this.

[Wally]

I didn't feel it.  We are around 100 miles as the Raven flies, from the epicenter.  It didn't really do any damage; just got people excited.  The last earthquake I felt here was in 1987.  Shook the house a bit, but not much more than that.  In 1982 there was one in northern New Brunswick, where I was staying at the time, followed by an aftershock the next day.  It sounded like a low-flying jet airplane, and I could feel what felt like a wave move under me, as I stood in the basement of the house.  These tend to be rather benign in this part of the country.  There is nothing equivalent to the San Andreas Fault here.  Of course, based on what we know from the SOP, I would expect these to become more frequent and stronger as time goes on. 

[Richard Myers]

There is nothing equivalent to the San Andreas Fault here.

Not yet. After the big one, there will be! 

Of course, based on what we know from the SOP, I would expect these to become more frequent and stronger as time goes on.

A 4.0 is not unusual for Maine?  I was under the impression that the East Coast did not get earthquakes. And therefore there have many brick buildings that will come down in a good sized quake.

[Wally]

O, we get quakes, they are just not very strong--yet!  So they don't get the press that the big ones do.  In the past 15 years there have been more than 50 earthquakes in Maine, most of them registering between 2 and 4 on the Richter Scale.  The one this week was one of the strongest ones.

[carls365]

I like what Ken Cox says, "you ain't seen nothing yet, the big one will happen when Jesus comes"