Rumble felt in Pawleys Island, earthquake unconfirmed

By: Eric Walters | SCNOW
Published: May 13, 2009

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Reports of an earthquake in Pawleys Island Wednesday are unconfirmed. Initial reports of an earthquake came in between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

According to a press release, seismometers around the state do not show an earthquake, however, data coverage in the area is sparse and a small earthquake out to sea is still possible.

According to Dr. Erin Beutel, Associate Professor, College of Charleston Dept. of Geology and Environmental Geosciences and Director of the SCEEP (South Carolina Earthquake Education and Preparedness), another possible source of earthquake reports, especially rattling along the coast, is a sonic boom at sea.

While planes are not allowed to cross the sound barrier over land, they are allowed to do so at sea and weather conditions may cause that boom to travel long distances.

There have been earthquake reports in years past from John’s Island and Isle of Palms that did not show up on any seismometers and are strongly suspected to be sonic booms.