Check How Intense the East Coast Earthquake Was in Your Zip Code

A digital tool relies on user-generated reports to the U.S. Geological Survey















Share on Tumblr

Text updated 7:52 p.m. ET | Tuesday afternoon's earthquake was a shared experience for millions of Americans along the East Coast, but how intense was it where you live? 

The U.S. Geological Survey has released a summary of the quake's intensity -- that's not its Richter magnitude, mind you -- by ZIP code.

Enter your ZIP code to see how intense the quake was reported to be where you live and how far you were from the epicenter in Virginia:

shake-intensity.jpg

Data last updated 10:15 a.m. ET

Note: The measurement in each ZIP code is based off of reports submitted by people there who felt the quake. You can help make this measurement more accurate by taking the USGS survey and sharing your experience. It takes about a minute to fill out and thousands of people already have.

When you finish, the survey generates a numeral, giving you the approximate intensity in your ZIP code. Remember, this is not the magnitude of the earthquake where you were. Check the number against the color scale and definitions below.

These numbers are on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, which is on a different scale than earthquake magnitude:

Abbreviated Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale

1. Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable conditions.

2. Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of buildings.

3. Felt quite noticeably by persons indoors, especially on upper floors of buildings. Many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibrations similar to the passing of a truck. Duration estimated.

4. Felt indoors by many, outdoors by few during the day. At night, some awakened. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls make cracking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing motor cars rocked noticeably.

5. Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened. Some dishes, windows broken. Unstable objects overturned. Pendulum clocks may stop.

6. Felt by all, many frightened. Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of fallen plaster. Damage slight.

7. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken.

8. Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse. Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned.

9. Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb. Damage great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations.

10. Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed with foundations. Rails bent.

11. Few, if any (masonry) structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Rails bent greatly.

12. Damage total. Lines of sight and level are distorted. Objects thrown into the air.

Interactive by Justin Myers and Vanessa Dennis

This aritcle, reprinted with permission from PBS NewsHour, was first published August 23.



2 Comments

Add Comment
View
  1. 1. lamorpa 02:41 PM 8/24/11

    Why the roman numerals? Just to spice it up?

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  2. 2. georget99 02:56 PM 8/24/11

    Perhaps Roman numerals are to reduce confusion with Richter scale ratings.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
Leave this field empty

Add a Comment

You must sign in or register as a ScientificAmerican.com member to submit a comment.
Click one of the buttons below to register using an existing Social Account.

More from Scientific American

See what we're tweeting about

Scientific American Editors

More »

Free Newsletters


Get the best from Scientific American in your inbox

Solve Innovation Challenges

Powered By: Innocentive

  SA Digital

Latest from SA Blog Network

  SA Digital

Email this Article

Check How Intense the East Coast Earthquake Was in Your Zip Code

X
Scientific American Magazine

Subscribe Today

Save 66% off the cover price and get a free gift!

Learn More >>

X

Please Log In

Forgot: Password

X

Account Linking

Welcome, . Do you have an existing ScientificAmerican.com account?

Yes, please link my existing account with for quick, secure access.



Forgot Password?

No, I would like to create a new account with my profile information.

Create Account
X

Report Abuse

Are you sure?

X

Institutional Access

It has been identified that the institution you are trying to access this article from has institutional site license access to Scientific American on nature.com. To access this article in its entirety through site license access, click below.

Site license access
X

Error

X

Share this Article

X