North Carolina Earthquake

airboy · August 09, 2020, 11:06:33 AM

North Carolina got the largest earthquake since 1916 last night. It was a 5.1 quake centered in Sparta, NC which is in the mountains close to the Virginia Line. It was felt in NC, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia.

NC gets a mild earthquake every other year or so. I remember them from growing up in Western, NC.

See: https://time.com/5877852/north-carolina-earthquake/

steve58 · August 09, 2020, 03:50:53 PM

Hey AB, whereabouts in NC? I'm a native Tarheel myself, from W-S (home of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

and some big name manufacturer, RJR is it?). Don't remember any quakes when I was growing up.

airboy · August 09, 2020, 09:51:02 PM

I grew up in Catawba County & my wife in Asheville.

Sir Slash · August 11, 2020, 02:17:50 PM

Asheville is on my list to visit with the Wife. Beautiful I hear.

steve58 · August 11, 2020, 02:22:42 PM

Quote from: Sir Slash on August 11, 2020, 02:17:50 PM
Asheville is on my list to visit with the Wife. Beautiful I hear.

Yes it is, but its also the San Francisco of NC. :'(

Myrmidon · August 11, 2020, 06:50:03 PM

Quote from: steve58 on August 11, 2020, 02:22:42 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on August 11, 2020, 02:17:50 PM
Asheville is on my list to visit with the Wife. Beautiful I hear.

Yes it is, but its also the San Francisco of NC. :'(

True, but once you're outside city limits, you're back in Western North Carolina. The clash of cultures keeps things interesting.

Sir Slash · August 11, 2020, 09:51:25 PM

Well, as long as I'm close to the rest of America then I guess it won't be too bad. ::)

Dammit Carl! · August 12, 2020, 02:25:24 AM

Quote from: Sir Slash on August 11, 2020, 02:17:50 PM
Asheville is on my list to visit with the Wife. Beautiful I hear.

Ain't bad, but too many people anymore. If visiting, expect mad traffic.

-born, raised there (mostly), lived there, and moved end of last year down the mountain to a smaller town.

jamus34 · August 12, 2020, 08:02:51 AM

Yeah my folks live in Waynesville and it's about as polar opposite to Asheville as you can get. I like both towns for different reasons though.

Really like the western NC / east TN region. Hoping I can convince the wife to retire there when we're ready in 15 years or so but where the kids go so will she want to.

Dammit Carl! · August 12, 2020, 08:27:26 AM

About three weeks back or so, spent a week for work in West Jefferson, NC which is North of Boone just a smidge. Damn pretty place, so I'd suggest that area for a visit, tbh.

We relocated toward the foothills closer to the SC line - we're around an hour away from Charlotte, Asheville, Hickory, and Spartanburg and honestly couldn't be happier. Less traffic, quieter place (and bigger place to boot in terms of acreage and square footage of the house) and a more "small town," feel. Plus, it's nice to get away from the snow and whatnot.

Mom's side of the family is from Haywood Co. and Eastern TN, so agree with loving that part of the planet too.

Gusington · August 12, 2020, 08:38:51 AM

I have never been to this area - what are the winters like there?

Sir Slash · August 12, 2020, 09:10:14 AM

The Wife and I have been to Gatlinburg a couple of times and like it a lot but it is pretty tourist-ity. Also The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in Bryson City is great. Gus, the family was in Gatlinburg for X-Mas last year. Snow at the higher elevations only and none in town. Got down to 26 one morning if I remember correctly, plenty of fog and the steep roads can be very slick at times. But in town it was great. I see it floods there often in the Spring. <:-)

Dammit Carl! · August 12, 2020, 09:16:08 AM

Quote from: Gusington on August 12, 2020, 08:38:51 AM
I have never been to this area - what are the winters like there?

Depends. Speaking of Asheville and my experience there, on average, I think we would get a few days in January through March where you could call it a "good snow," where 4" to 8" comes down and stays a few days. Toss in some sleet and icing, and there you go. Kicker to living there was that snow removal was not great living in the county and DOT just didn't seem to have the resources to clear things in a timely manner.

Snow used to be more seasonal and run in the winter months as usual, but past decade has seen things move to a more "first part of the year," thing. The Blizzard of '93 was no joke, but can't recall seeing anything that bad since.

Power loss in bad weather where I lived wasn't horrible as I think the longest we went with no power was around 3 days or so. But, that could have been the luck of where I lived too.

Can't speak for places further west or north of Asheville, but they typically get hit harder for longer. Flip side is that they are also better suited to deal with the snow too.