Earthquake count more than halfway to last year’s total

Oklahoma earthquake counts already are more than halfway to last year’s total, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

As of May 18, there were 336 magnitude 3.0 or greater earthquakes recorded in central and north-central Oklahoma, according to USGS Earthquake Hazards Program Central & Eastern U.S. Coordinator Robert Williams.

Williams said there has been a “little bit” of earthquake activity in west-central Oklahoma. According to a map he provided, there have been 338 magnitude 3.0 or greater quakes in the state, as of May 18.

“We’re not halfway through the year and we’re already more than halfway to last year’s total of 585,” he said, on May 19.

Earthquake rates in central and north-central Oklahoma still are high and are not much different from the high rates observed in the second half of 2014, Williams noted.

Of the 336 earthquakes in central and north-central Oklahoma, nine were magnitude 4.0 to magnitude 4.2, he said.

“Because earthquake rates are still very high in central Oklahoma, the likelihood of future, damaging earthquakes has not diminished for central and north-central Oklahoma,” Williams said. “We hope that this continues to be a crucial consideration in earthquake preparedness for residents, schools and businesses in the area.

“Building owners and government officials should have a special concern for older, unreinforced brick structures, which are vulnerable to serious damage during sufficient shaking.”

He said total earthquake numbers may differ slightly from numbers reported by the Oklahoma Geological Survey.

Credit to Enidnews.com