Is Charleston prepared for an earthquake?

Devastating earthquakes all over the world have been in the news for several months now.

And while we know the U-S has a history of major quakes, you might be surprised by the places that could be hit by the next big one.

CNN Jacqui Jeras reports.

"It was the most catastrophic earthquake ever to hit anyplace east of the Mississippi throughout all of U.S. history struck Charleston with a ferocious roar.

Author and researcher Richard Cote describes the horror that filled the steamy Charleston air on August 31st, 1886. An estimated 7.3 magnitude quake devastated this charming southern city.

"Two thirds of all brick structures in Charleston were either destroyed or severely damaged. "

It was felt from Montreal to Nebraska, Cuba to Bermuda. "So this is the church building and it was severely damaged during the earthquake?

Cote: "This is one of the most magnificent churches in Charleston--St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. The entire bell tower separated with a huge crack through the side of the building."

Amazingly, the church was put back together with earthquake bolts, as were many of other buildings in town.

Jeras: "So these are the earthquake bolts?

Cote:"These are the legendary earthquake bolts. What you see on the side of the building is not actually the bolt itself. That is the long iron rod that runs all the way through the building."

Retired Geology professor Pradeep Talwani has spent decades researching the 1886 earthquake. He says the fault zone is deep and runs right through nearby historical Fort Dorchester.

Talwani: "So you can get some idea of the force of the earthquake which caused this to break and move this one in a right lateral sense, sorry a left lateral sense, so this.

Jeras: "So this comes out and this is pushing back right here"

Talwani: "Exactly. So we have, and here the displacement is about 4" or 10 cm. so, to have the earthquake be so strong and break this and move this gives you some clue what was going on."

95% of all earthquakes occur when two tectonic plates push against each other. But South Carolina sits inside the North American plate. There are weaknesses within that plate just north of Charleston, and when pressure is put on it, stress builds and the earth moves. Talwanis research has shown the 1886 earthquake was one of at least seven quakes to happen here.
"The frequency of earthquakes we're getting is once every 500 years, on an average."

So the question is not if Charleston is rattled by another powerful earthquake, but when. And is the city prepared?

Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley says earthquakes are fused into Charleston’s history and future.

"We've made our buildings stronger. So they would well withstand an earthquake better than they did a hundred and forty four years ago. And then we are ready and poised to get through it, and to recover."

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division released the results of a study that outlines what could happen if a 7.3 magnitude earthquake were to strike the same area.

The report estimates that 900 people would be killed, 800 bridges would be damaged beyond use, 36 million tons of debris would be generated and total economic losses would reach $20 billion.