Gulf of Mexico Quake Rattles U.S. Coast
Pastor Dale Morgan
Gulf of Mexico Quake Rattles U.S. Coast*
*Sunday September 10, 2006 8:31 PM*
*By PHIL DAVIS*
*Associated Press Writer*
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A magnitude 6.0 earthquake in the Gulf of Mexico sent
shock waves through an area from Louisiana to southwest Florida on
Sunday, but no damage was reported, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The earthquake, centered about 260 miles southwest of Tampa, was too
small to trigger a tsunami or dangerous waves, the agency said. The USGS
received almost 2,000 reports from people who felt the 10:56 a.m. quake.
Scientists said it was the largest and most widely felt of more than a
dozen earthquakes recorded in the eastern Gulf of Mexico in the last 30
years.
``This is a fairly unique event,'' said Don Blakeman, an analyst with
the National Earthquake Information Center who said the quake was
unusually strong. ``I wouldn't expect any substantial damage, but it is
possible there will be some minor damage.''
The most prevalent vibration, which last for about 20 seconds, was felt
on the gulf coast of Florida and in southern Georgia, Blakeman said. But
residents in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana also called in reports.
Florida counties along the Gulf of Mexico called the state emergency
operations center with reports of tremors but no damage was reported,
spokesman Mike Stone said. Gov. Jeb Bush was informed of the situation,
Stone said.
The epicenter is an unusual location for earthquake activity, but
scientists recorded a magnitude 5.2 temblor in the same location on Feb.
10.
``This kind of occurrence is unusual in that spot, especially for an
earthquake of this size,'' Blakeman said of Sunday's quake.
The temblor was unusual because it was not centered on a known fault
line. The ``midplate'' earthquake, deep under the gulf, was probably the
result of stresses generated by the interaction of tectonic plates in
the earth's crust, the agency said.
Only one of Florida's rare earthquakes caused significant damage. In
January 1879, St. Augustine residents reported heavy shaking that
knocked plaster off the walls.
A more recent temblor, in November 1952, prompted a resident of Quincy
to report the shaking ``interfered with the writing of a parking
ticket,'' the USGS said.
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On the Net:
U.S. Geological Survey:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Quakes/usslav.php