Sorry I haven't been posting very much lately.  Not only have I had to contend with a recent court hearing, but I've got to keep on top of the end-of-the-semester grind in school, but today, something came up that was worth sharing with ya'll.

I'll bet this story sounds like a story you'd find in the California media:

The quake, which struck about 3 p.m. Saturday, raised eyebrows and worried children, but caused no damage. The U.S. Geological Survey took note of the event but did not report its magnitude as of late Saturday.

... right?  No ... WRONG!  This was a shaker that occured here in the Summerville area, right where I live, according to this  Post and Courier story.

In case you didn't know, Charleston is not only a big hurricane target, with dozens of major hurricanes having made landfall in or near the city since the first settlers landed on Town Creek in 1670.   It is well-known as one of the most seismically active locations in North America outside of California.

That means we get earthquakes.  Not like they get in California - but we get a couple of very minor tremors a year.  Enough to shake and notice, but not enough to do any damage.

The photo is a scene of the devastation from the great earthquake of 1886, which killed over 60 people, sparked fires which devastated large parts of the city, and was considered the worst earthquake in American history until the great San Francisco earthquake of about a century ago.

This report from 1906 in the San Francisco Chronicle  summarizes the devastation that stuck the city:

“Seven-eighths of the houses were rendered unfit for habitation, many persons were killed and property valued at over $8,000,000 was destroyed. The damage, however, was quickly repaired.”

Following the first great shock, the only one which did any damage, lighter and lesser vibrations were felt at intervals for several weeks. These gradually became less frequent and finally ceased, even as the minds of the people ceased to dwell on the disaster as they took up again their ordinary pursuits.

It will be even so in San Francisco. It was not the earthquake but the fire that wrought the destruction in this great city. If anyone thinks there is no resurrection from earthquake effects let him be referred to Charleston for an answer. Thousands fled the city as soon as they could get transportation, but as soon as they recovered their reason they returned as rapidly to join the brave army of workers that were rebuilding. It will be so here.

Thrice in a generation Charleston was nearly obliterated. The civil war left it in ashes, the earthquake left it in ruins, a few years subsequent it was visited by a cyclone which damaged it over $5,000,000. Yet despite all these disasters her brave people have risen superior to every reverse and are daily growing in wealth and power.