United States Earthquakes

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U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, 1985 - Earthquakes

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Page 5 - Trees shaken strongly-branches, trunks, broken off, especially palm trees. Ejected sand and mud in small amounts. Changes: temporary, permanent; in flow of springs and wells; dry wells renewed flow; in temperature of spring and well waters. Damage slight in structures (brick) built especially to withstand earthquakes. Considerable in ordinary substantial buildings, partial collapse: racked, tumbled down, wooden houses in some cases; threw out panel walls in frame structures, broke off decayed piling....
Page 5 - Everybody runs outdoors. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction ; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures ; considerable in poorly built or badly designed structures ; some chimneys broken. Noticed by persons driving motor cars.
Page 5 - Felt indoors by several, motion usually rapid vibration. Sometimes not recognized to be an earthquake at first. Duration estimated in some cases. Vibration like that due to passing of light or lightly loaded trucks, or heavy trucks some distance away.
Page 6 - The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the US Geological Survey For additional information write to: District Chief US Geological Survey 333 W.
Page 5 - Rocked standing motor cars noticeably. V. Felt indoors by practically all, outdoors by many or most; outdoors direction estimated. Awakened many or most. Frightened few, slight excitement, a few ran outdoors. Buildings trembled throughout. Broke dishes, glassware, to some extent. Cracked windows, in some cases, but not generally. Overturned vases, small or unstable objects, in many instances, with occasional fall. Hanging objects, doors, swing generally or considerably. Knocked pictures against walls...
Page 5 - VI. Felt by all, indoors and outdoors. Frightened many, excitement general, some alarm, many ran outdoors. Awakened all. Persons made to move unsteadily. Trees, bushes, shaken slightly to moderately. Liquid set in strong motion. Small bells rang— church, chapel, school, etc. Damage slight in poorly built buildings. Fall of plaster in small amount.
Page 6 - Ejected water in large amounts charged with sand and mud. Caused sea-waves ("tidal" waves) of significant magnitude. Damage severe to wood-frame structures, especially near shock centers. Great to dams, dikes, embankments often for long distances. Few, if any (masonry) structures remained standing. Destroyed large well-built bridges by the wrecking of supporting piers, or pillars.
Page 5 - ... may swing, very slowly. II Felt indoors by few, especially on upper floors, or by sensitive or nervous persons. Also, as in grade I but often more noticeably: sometimes hanging objects may swing, especially when delicately suspended; sometimes trees, structures, liquids, bodies of water, may sway, doors may swing very slowly, sometimes birds, animals, reported uneasy or disturbed; sometimes dizziness or nausea experienced.
Page 6 - Threw out of plumb some wood-frame houses built especially to withstand earthquakes; great in substantial (masonry) buildings, some collapse in large part; or wholly shifted frame buildings off foundations, racked frames; serious to reservoirs; underground pipes sometimes broken. X. Cracked ground, especially when loose and wet, up to widths of several inches; fissures up to a yard in width ran parallel to canal and stream banks. Landslides considerable from river banks and steep coasts. Shifted...
Page 5 - Ejected sand, mud, in small amounts. Changes: temporary, permanent; in flow of springs and wells; dry wells renewed flow; in temperature of spring and well waters. Damage slight in structures (brick) built especially to withstand earthquakes. Considerable in ordinary substantial buildings, partial collapse; racked, tumbled down, wooden houses in some cases; threw out panel walls in frame structures, broke off decayed piling. Fall of walls. Cracked, broke, solid stone walls seriously. Wet ground to...

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