The earthquake off South Carolina on March 8 (Ml 3.5) was the largest ever recorded within 200 km of that epicenter. A slightly smaller (Ml 3.3) event occurred in the same general area last year, the only other earthquake recorded of M>3 in that region.

Don has raised the question regarding the elation of this event to Alaska earthquake of Nov. 3 by reference to what kind of activity in the area of South Carolina or Florida was ssociated with the great Good Friday earthquake in Alaska on March 28, 1964.

A search of the data base shows that several regionally significant earthquake preceded the Alaska earthquake in 1964. These included a Ml
3.3 on March 7 and a Ml 4.4 on March 13. Both of these occurred in Georgia and the second was felt within an area of 400 sq. miles around Baldwin. In that earthquake there was significant trembling and rattling with some
minor damage and great sounds heard from the earth.

The first earthquake to occur in South Carolina after the Alaska shock of 1964 occurred near Colombia, SC on April 20, 1964. It was felt with intensity V (minor damage) in the Fairfield, Florence, Lexington and Richland counties of South Carolina and registered Ml 3.5. This was the only event located in the South Carolina region of Ml>=3.5 between 1960 and 1967.

Was there a relation with the Alaska arthquake? Hard to tell, too few examples allow us to come to whatever conclusions suits our preconceived ideas.