Minor earthquake jolts Tennessee Town

Two earthquakes struck the same parts of northeastern Tennessee early Tuesday morning, May 31.

The initial quake was registered at 3 a.m., according to the USGS. It had a magnitude of 2.4 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was 8 miles northwest of Newbern, Tennessee.

There was only one report of this quake being felt as of 4 a.m. Someone in Dyersburg did this.


The second quake, measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale, struck 40 minutes later, at 3:40 a.m. on Tuesday. It was about 7.8 miles northwest of Newbern when it hit.

Residents in the vicinity may have experienced some tremors.

How often does Tennessee experience earthquakes?
According to the US Geological Survey, Tennessee has seen four substantial earthquakes in the last 25 years.
According to USGS data, Tennessee experienced 301 earthquakes in 2018, the most in the last 25 years.
In the year 2019 alone, Tennessee experienced 2 of these significant earthquakes.
The most powerful earthquake in the State occurred in 1811 near the New Madrid fault line. With a magnitude of 7.5, this quake wreaked havoc in the western section of the State and produced Reel Foot Lake.
Scientists predict that another strong quake will strike along that fault line in the future, but they can't say when.

How is an earthquake categorised as a significant one?
An earthquake's magnitude is measured on a scale from one to ten and represents the amount of energy emitted.

The USGS examines the number of individuals who reported experiencing an earthquake, the magnitude of the quake, and damage or injuries it caused, if any, when determining whether an earthquake is a significant one or not.

How to face an earthquake?
Here's what to do if you're in the middle of a big earthquake.

Stop, drop, and hold on tight.

Submerge yourself in something solid and hefty.

Do not enter a room through a doorway. It's possible that it won't be earthquake-proof.

Stay in your automobile if you're caught in traffic.

Heavy things, such as bookshelves, should be bolted to the wall.

This is something that everyone should do, even if they aren't in a seismic zone.

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