In the middle of destruction and terror, high winds plow through buildings and the rain floods homes and buildings. A massive earthquake rattled Charleston on August 31, 1886. The Charleston earthquake was about a magnitude of 7.3 with an epicenter in Summerville. SC (History.com). The earthquake killed one hundred people and it demolished hundreds of buildings and homes. The total damage from this destruction from the earthquake was 5.5 million dollars, but today would be 112 million dollars of homes and buildings being destroyed (Post and Courier). There was many more things the earthquakes did but those were the main things it did.. In 1886, an earthquake plowed through Charleston, South Carolina. The people of Charleston who was affected from the earthquake, triumphed and rebuilt Charleston and the rest of South Carolina over the tragedy of the destruction of the 1886 Charleston earthquake.
Before, the earthquake happened it was a very hot day and people were getting home from work as soon as the disaster happened. “Two University of South Carolina geologists say they have identified that fault: a 375-mile-fracture that stretches from Charleston to a point 25 miles east of Richmond.” (The Washington Post). Geologist found a fracture between Richmond to Charleston and remains active. The fault line is directly under Summerville, SC and Fayetteville, NC and could be dangerous for Richmond VA. There had not been any activity for thousands of years on the northern side of the fault line. The area around Charleston had had about 200 other earthquakes but nothing serious since 1977. There has not been any kinds of earthquakes in east or south of Richmond.
Above all, the earthquake never went global but it did go to Maine, Florida, and even around the Mississippi River and they were able to feel it from Charleston. “There was damage to buildings as far away as Ohio and Alabama.” (History.com). The earthquake destroyed so many homes and so many buildings it made the total damage cost 5.5 million dollars, today it would be 112 million dollars (World History Project). It was recorded to be the largest earthquake to happen in the southeastern part of America. It was even estimated that 14,000 chimneys fell off of homes that have been destroyed or really badly damaged (History.com). The earthquake remained a mystery for years upon years until someone found a fault line that went from Charleston all the way to Richmond. So many things got destroyed from the earthquake that a lot of people found out around where the quake happened and all tried to help the people who severely were hurt and got things badly happened to them from the earthquake. This earthquake never went global it really just stayed at a national level of status because nothing happened outside of the United States of America. Many people in different states felt it but did not severely damage their homes like it did in Charleston and other places in South Carolina.
Therefore, the earthquake was a huge tragedy and destroyed many homes, buildings, and lives of many people. This was a huge part of society for the people of Charleston because it meant that people had pretty much nothing left to go home too. People had to pay a lot of money for the reconstruction of their homes and it cost a lot of money for the people who had nothing left. A lot of people in Charleston and around Charleston had nowhere to gome home too. There were many aftershocks as well that ruined daily life. “One hundred and twenty-five years ago, just a little before 10 p.m., the biggest earthquake ever to strike the East Coast hit here.” (The Post and Courier). Most people died to the exposure of the storm but most people who heard about the earthquake left fast enough to not get killed from the devastating storm. The earthquake was a very big tragedy against the people of Charleston and what they have owned.
However, the people of Charleston triumphed over the earthquake and rebuilt the great city of Charleston. Charleston rebuilt after the destruction of the earthquake and everything went back to normal but was still a huge part of the history of Charleston. “The months and years that follow would involve major challenges to rebuilding.” (The Post and Courier). It was a huge challenge for the reconstruction of the city. They had to reconstruct homes, buildings, and local transportation systems like train tracks. It took a lot of time for Charleston to rebuild because of how big the earthquake was and how much damage it did to the city. They had to rebuild thousands of home and buildings and it did take Charleston and other counties had to rebuild. Other states even had to rebuild some buildings because they could feel it from all the way from Charleston it was that strong. The people of Charleston rebuilt the buildings and homes that got destroyed.
Therefore, there were many short term impacts from the earthquake like the destruction of buildings, homes, and the death of 100 people. The city rebuilt the buildings and homes of all of the destroyed place. “More than 100 people dead and hundreds of buildings destroyed. This was the largest recorded earthquake in the history of the southeastern United States.” (History.com). People had to help rebuild their homes and helped many others o rebuild their homes as well.. Many people died the day of the earthquake because of exposure to the weather and things that have been knocked down from the earthquake. Charleston had many short term impacts that affected many people who lived in Charleston and other counties.
However, there were many long term impacts from the earthquake like damage cost, the death of people, and the rebuild of the city. The earthquake did 5.5 million dollars in damage and they had to rebuild many buildings and many homes. A lot of people had their homes destroyed and many of their possessions as well. “Ultimately, the final count would reveal that approximately 60 individuals had lost their lives due to the historic quake which is estimated to have been 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale.” (Appalachian Magazine). This big event of the earthquake had a big impact on society for a long time and as well as a short time. It was a huge thing which destroyed many places and many lives that most people will never forget. The city of Charleston rebuilt homes and buildings and many other things.
In conclusion, the people of Charleston who was affected from the earthquake, triumphed and rebuilt Charleston and the rest of South Carolina over the tragedy of the destruction of the 1886 Charleston earthquake.This very big event in time for Charleston was a big catastrophe. The people of Charleston dealt with the earthquake and tried to fix everything that the earthquake did to Charleston. They rebuilt buildings and homes which made the city home again for many people who lived in the city. There were many of people who died the die that it happened which also rattled the city of Charleston. “Charleston played host to one of the worst quakes ever to rattle the eastern United States.” (Appalachian Magazine). There were a lot of people that had to rebuild their homes and most of them couldn’t because they had nothing left.. This was one of the worst earthquakes that happened in the south eastern part of the United States of America. A lot of people lost their home from the earthquake the night of the disaster.The people of Charleston in 1886 went through on of the worst things that could ever happen to a person. This disaster rattled a lot of people when it happened but they overcame and persevered through the horrifying storm and rebuilt the city of Charleston.