I.
Not felt except by a very few under especially
favorable conditions.
II. Felt only by a few persons at rest,
especially on upper floors of buildings.
III. Felt quite noticeably by persons
indoors, especially on upper floors of buildings. Many
people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing
motor cars may rock slightly. Vibrations similar to
the passing of a truck. Duration estimated.
IV. Felt indoors by many, outdoors by few
during the day. At night, some awakened. Dishes,
windows, doors disturbed; walls make cracking sound.
Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing
motor cars rocked noticeably.
V. Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened.
Some dishes, windows broken. Unstable objects
overturned. Pendulum clocks may stop.
VI. Felt by all, many frightened. Some heavy
furniture moved; a few instances of fallen plaster.
Damage slight.
VII. Damage negligible in buildings of good
design and construction; slight to moderate in
well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in
poorly built or badly designed structures; some
chimneys broken.
VIII. Damage slight in specially designed
structures; considerable damage in ordinary
substantial buildings with partial collapse. Damage
great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys,
factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy
furniture overturned.
IX. Damage considerable in specially
designed structures; well-designed frame structures
thrown out of plumb. Damage great in substantial
buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted
off foundations.
X. Some well-built wooden structures
destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed
with foundations. Rails bent.
XI. Few, if any (masonry) structures remain
standing. Bridges destroyed. Rails bent greatly.
XII. Damage total. Lines of sight and level
are distorted. Objects thrown into the air.
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