An earthquake struck northwest Georgia this morning, well north and west of the Atlanta metro area. According to USGS, at 7:53 am today near the town of LaFayette, Georgia, an earthquake struck from a depth of 4.8 km and a magnitude of 2.0. There were no reports of any damage or injuries.
According to USGS, earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0 or less are rarely felt or heard by people, but once they exceed 2.0 more and more people can feel them. While damage is possible with magnitude 3.0 events or greater, significant damage and casualties usually don’t occur until the magnitude of a seismic event rises to a 5.5 or greater rated event.
Today’s earthquake was the fourth to strike Georgia over the last five weeks. On September 30, a magnitude 2.0 earthquake struck just over the border in Mentone, Alabama. Then on October 9, a magnitude 2.1 earthquake struck southwest of Atlanta; on October 20, an earthquake struck nearby southwest of Atlanta; it was a magnitude 2.2…