Community Corner

Connecticut Earthquake Facts and Safety Tips

The Northeast is no stranger to earthquakes, history tells us.

Despite the shock of yesterday’s earthquake and the ensuing aftershock that traveled up the east coast, the region is no stranger to seismic activity.

According to the Northeast States Emergency Consortium (NESEC), approximately 40-50 earthquakes are detected annually in this region, which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

As a region, the NESEC goes on to report, the northeast was home to 2,403 earthquakes between 1638 and 2007. Connecticut accounts for 137 of those.

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Save yesterday’s 5.9-magnitude quake that struck Virginia, which is technically another region, the last earthquake with a magnitude greater than 2.7 to hit the northeast was on Sept. 27, 2010. That 3.1-magnitude quake’s epicenter was located outside of Contoocook, NH, according to Boston College’s Weston Observatory.

The NESEC offers additional information that further testifies to the northeast’s relatively high seismic status. It says: “Potential earthquake losses, when annualized, add up to about $5.3 billion dollars a year, and the Northeast ranks fourth in the nation for annualized losses, according to a recently released study by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

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Part of the reason that number is so high, experts say, is due to the age of many of the region’s buildings and the materials used in construction. Earthquake hotbeds like California also employ stricter codes that specifically address the stress quakes can place on structural stability, thereby potentially reducing damage costs.

While there are few cost-effective measures that property owners can take to address the structural issues presented by earthquakes, there are steps residents can take to ensure their safety should such a scenario arise again.

The American Red Cross makes these recommendations:

  • Become aware of fire evacuation and earthquake plans for all of the buildings you occupy regularly.
  • Pick safe places in each room of your home, workplace and/or school. A safe place could be under a piece of furniture or against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases or tall furniture that could fall on you.
  • Practice drop, cover and hold on in each safe place. If you do not have sturdy furniture to hold on to, sit on the floor next to an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms.
  • Keep a flashlight and sturdy shoes by each person’s bed.
  • Make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundation.
  • Bolt and brace water heaters and gas appliances to wall studs.
  • Bolt bookcases, china cabinets and other tall furniture to wall studs.
  • Hang heavy items, such as pictures and mirrors, away from beds, couches and anywhere people sleep or sit.
  • Brace overhead light fixtures.
  • Install strong latches or bolts on cabinets. Large or heavy items should be closest to the floor.
  • Learn how to shut off the gas valves in your home and keep a wrench handy for that purpose.

The Red Cross has a host of additional recommendations and resources available in the attached PDF and on its website.

Are you taking any steps to prepare for an earthquake? Tell us in the comments section below. 


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