Earthquakes are not new to South Carolina. They tend to stick to the coast, with 70% of the state's earthquakes in the Middleton Place-Summerville Seismic Zone, about 12.4 miles northwest of Charleston. The most recent earthquake occurred on January 5th, 2022.
A 2.6-magnitude quake struck near Elgin in the early hours of January 5th. Later that same day, another earthquake hit the area with a magnitude of 1.5. The area, a community of fewer than 2,000 residents, has become the epicenter of a spate of seismic activity. This recent activity started on December 27th with a 3.3-magnitude earthquake and caused structural damage. No human injuries were noted.
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division states that South Carolina typically averages up to 20 earthquakes each year. It is common for clusters of quakes to occur. Researchers find it frustrating that there is no way to know if more minor quakes foreshadow something direr.
Steven Jaume, a College of Charleston geology professor, told the Associated Press, "You can't see it coming. There isn't anything obvious moving or changing that you can put your finger on that you can say, 'This is leading to this.'" Jaume explained that the recent quakes would be aftershocks as the subsequent earthquakes have all been smaller. Since the December 27th quake, there have been nine more seismic events. These events kept popping up more than a week after the initial quake leaving researchers stumped. For more details on this interesting topic, check out this article, presented by insurancejournal.com.
While we may not be able to predict what's to come, you can make certain that you and your business are protected. With recent natural disasters occurring all over the country, it is an excellent time to review your business policies to make sure your property is protected. AdvoCap Insurance Agency, Inc. is glad to review and discuss all your insurance needs.
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