Monday, Oct. 15, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- This week is Earthquake Awareness Week in South Carolina.

The state Emergency Management Division has several events planned to remind residents that earthquakes are as much of a hazard as hurricanes, floods and tornadoes in South Carolina. It also will share pictures and tips on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.

The key event of the week is the Great Southeast ShakeOut earthquake drill Thursday. At 10:18 a.m., emergency officials will send out information about an earthquake on weather radio and other means, and they encourage people to practice what they would do if the ground started shaking.

Officials say South Carolina has about a dozen small earthquakes a year. But back in August 1886, Charleston suffered one of the most devastating earthquakes in U.S. history, which measured magnitude 7.3.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)