On August 31, 1886, Charleston was nearly destroyed by an earthquake. The shock was estimated to have a moment magnitude of 7.0 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). It was felt as far away as Boston to the north, Chicago and Milwaukee to the northwest, as far west as New Orleans, as far south as Cuba, and as far east as Bermuda. It damaged 2,000 buildings in Charleston and caused $6 million worth of damage ($133 million in 2006 dollars), at a time when all the city's buildings were valued around $24 million ($531 million in 2006 dollars). COUNT 5
QSN1 What nearly destroyed Charleston in 1886? ANS1 an earthquake QSN2 What date was the Charleston earthquake of 1886? ANS2 August 31, 1886 QSN3 How many buildings were damaged by the 1886 earthquake in Charleston? ANS3 2,000 buildings QSN4 What was the cost of the damage of the 1886 earthquake to the city of Charleston? ANS4 $6 million QSN5 What was the total value of all of Charleston's city buildings before the earthquake? ANS5 $24 million