Small earthquake, Rutland,
Meigs County, December 1, 2012

Origin Time: 01 December, 2012,   07:32:02 UTC
Location: 39.041 North 82.143 West
Magnitude: 2.1 Md
Depth: ?

 

A small earthquake occurred at 02:32 a. m. EST approximately 0.75 miles WSW of Rutland, Meigs County. There were no felt reports. The instrumental location of this event is in the general vicinity of a 3.6-magnitude earthquake on November 5, 1926. This earlier event was felt strongly in Meigs County and vicinity. A description of the 1926 event from the unpublished files of the Ohio Geological Survey is as follows:

Gallipolis Daily Tribune, Monday, November 8, 1926. “ An earthquake rocked the rockribbed hills of Meigs County, last Friday, according to a lengthy report published in the Pomeroy Daily Tribune. The tremor is claimed to have occurred at 10:53 A.M. Friday but nothing had been said about it until evening, everyone being afraid to speak about it for fear of being laughed at. Canned fruit was declared to have been jarred from its cellar shelves, stoves turned over and buildings in general given a good shaking. But, no one was injured and damage was slight, the report stated.”

Stover and Coffman (1993, USGS Professional Paper 1527) summarized the event: “This earthquake toppled chimneys at Keno and nearby Pomeroy and overturned a heating stove at Chester, west of Keno. Also, one stovepipe was knocked down at Success, and a flue was downed at Bashan. Explosive earth sounds were reported. Felt throughout Meigs County, Ohio, and at Letart, W.Va.”  

Individuals who felt this event are encouraged to submit a report or email: ohioseis@dnr.state.oh.us. Please include a description of what you felt and your street address in your email message.