Alabama

Earthquake History

The known seismic history of Alabama spans about 100 years for local earthquakes. For shocks outside the State borders that caused damaged to cities in Alabama, the history can be traced to 1811 - 1812, when three great (estimated magnitude 8 or greater on the Richter scale) earthquakes centered in Missouri may have reached intensity VII in the northern and/or central sections. These gigantic earthquakes were comparable to the San Francisco shock in 1906 and were felt over 2 million square miles, more than half of the total area of the United States.

Historical records indicate the first earthquake of consequence in Alabama shook residents of Sumter and Marengo Counties, located in the western part of the State, on February 4, 1886. A similar shock occurred nine days later, on February 13. Both were reported felt at communities along the Tombigee River, but caused no damage. Only six months later, the destructive Charleston, South Carolina, shock that was felt in cities all over the Eastern United States occurred. This shock, located about 400 miles east of Alabama's border, caused minor damage in the northeastern part of the State.

In 1916 on October 18, a strong earthquake occurred on an unnamed fault east of Birmingham. It was apparently most strong at Easonville. Near the epicenter, chimneys were knocked down, windows broken, and frame buildings "badly shaken." It was noted by residents in seven States and covered 100,000 square miles.

Another tremor that damaged the Birmingham area occurred on April 23, 1957. Centered near the Tennessee River below Guntersville Dam, the earthquake shook residents in southern Tennessee, western Georgia, and most of northern and central Alabama. Earthquake records for that year state: "Felt by, awakened, and alarmed many. Minor damage to several chimneys; one report of cement steps cracked in two; and several small cracks in walls. Table-top items tumbled to the floor."

A shock centered in the Huntsville area on August 12, 1959. Though felt over a small area of southern Tennessee and northern Alabama, it shook bricks from chimneys at Hazel Green; damaged one chimney and a newly constructed concrete block building at Meridianville; shook violently the buildings at New Sharon, knocking canned goods from shelves and sending frightened residents fleeing from their homes; and cracked plaster and knocked groceries from shelves at Huntsville.

Additional earthquakes (intensity V category) listed for this State that were minor and caused no damage centered near Rosemary, western Alabama, in June 1917; in the Scottsboro area northeast of Huntsville in June 1927; at Cullman, northern Alabama, in May 1931; and in the Anniston area in May 1939.

A strong earthquake in southern Illinois in November 1968 caused intensity V effects in several localities in northern Alabama. The shock was the strongest in Illinois since 1895, and was felt over a half-million square miles in 23 States.

[The above history was abridged from Earthquake Information Bulletin, Volume 2, Number 1, January-February 1970.]

1975 Aug 29 04:22 4.4M Intensity VI
Palmerdale, Alabama ( 33.659N 86.5880W )
The earthquake cracked a sheetrock ceiling and shifted lamps on tables at Palmerdale, north of Birmingham. It caused slight damage at Watson, where furniture was displaced slightly. Also felt in southern Tennessee.

1989 Aug 20 00:03 3.9M Intensity VI
Near Littleville, Alabama ( 34.736N 87.6450W )
A Colbert County official reported that, south of Florence between Littleville and Russellville, a basement wall collapsed beneath a house. Only slight damage was reported north of the epicenter at Florence, where windows were cracked and hairline cracks formed in plaster. Also felt in Lauderdale, Lawrence, and Morgan Counties in northwest Alabama and Lawrence County in south-central Tennessee.

1997 Oct 24 08:35 4.9M Intensity VI
Near Brewton, Alabama ( 31.118N 87.3390W )
Felt (VI) at Brewton, Canoe and Lambeth; (V) at Atmore, Flomaton, Frisco City and Huxford; (IV) at Perdido and Robinsonville; (III) at Butler, Demopolis, Goodway, Mobile and Uriah. Felt (V) at Century; (IV) at McDavid, Pensacola and Walnut Hill; (III) at Milton, Florida. Felt (IV) at Leakesville, Mississippi. Also felt at Megargel; Elgin AFB, Florida; Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi.

1999 Jan 18 07:00 4.0M
Alabama ( 33.405N 87.2550W )
Mine collapse.

Historic Earthquakes

Irondale, Jefferson County, Alabama
1916 10 18 22:04 UTC
Magnitude 5.10
Intensity VII

Largest Earthquake in Alabama

 On the basis of the number of chimneys destroyed, this earthquake was more severe in Irondale than in any other town between Easonville and Birmingham. At Irondale, about 5 kilometers north of Birmingham, 14 chimneys in a two-block area were partly destroyed, and six chimneys on a brick store were leveled almost to the roof. Many other chimneys either were leveled to the roofs or were cracked so badly that they had to be rebuilt. At Pell City, a few bricks were dislocated from one of the courthouse chimneys, and near Easonville, a few chimneys were damaged lightly. Poorly built chimneys on the eastern edge of Birmingham were damaged heavily.

A careful study of the Red Gap fault, which extends from near Gate City to beyond Irondale, did not reveal direct evidence of recent earth movement. The most significant geologic result was the effect of the earthquake on underground water, particularly in Irondale. Five wells in a one-block area of Irondale went dry immediately after the shock, and the water level in many others was lowered. At Pell City, the shock lowered the water level in one well about 50 centimeters. Several small aftershocks occurred through October 28. Also felt in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Abridged from Seismicity of the United States, 1568-1989 (Revised), by Carl W. Stover and Jerry L. Coffman, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, United States Government Printing Office, Washington: 1993.