Hanna+Starnes

= = Earthquakes!

An **earthquake** is a series of vibrations included in the earth's rotation. They can be very harmful and make people have to move and restart. It's hard for people to come up with the money to buy a new house or re-build your old one.0

Earthquakes can various in damage in many different places. After a earthquake occurs it can cause a tsunami or a volcano to explode. The Richter scale comes in very helpful for measuring earthquakes. They can help tell how severe it was. The proper word for The Richter scale is: Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. Earth's plates move more and more until finally it causes an earthquake. They usally last about 60 seconds. They occur when plates scrape back and forth. After things such as volcanic eruptions they can possibly occur. Alaska has more earthquakes then any other state, even more then California. The moon has earthquakes too. Some of the safest buildings just rock back in a earthquake and don't even break. There are constantly 20 plates moving that make up the surface of the earth.

There is more then three million earthquakes a year. That's about 8,000 per day. An earthquake occurs at least every 11 seconds. About 80% of earthquakes occur at the rim of the Pacific Ocean, it can also be called, "The Ring of Fire". It is also home to 452 Volcanoes. have happened at the rim of the Pacific Ocean, over 75% of the worlds active dormant Volcanoes. California has about 10,000 earthquakes a year. Most earthquakes that go on you can barely even fell it. Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state. 90% of earthquakes occur along Oceans and Continental Plates. The plates are moved around from the motion of a deeper part of the earth that lies underneath the crust (the mantle). These plates always bumping into each other, pulling away from each other, or going past each other. Plates almost always move at about the same speed that your fingernails grow.

= Faults. = Faults are what move to create earthquakes. Those types of faults are called; Normal Fault, Reverse Fault, Thrust Fault, Strike-Slip Fault, and Right Lateral Strike-Slip Fault. Fault's can be horizontal or vertical.The fault of an earthquake is also where the earth cracks and creates the quake.

When an Earthquake occurs some safety tips are to:

 * 1) If outside, move away from power lines, trees & buildings.
 * 2) If inside, stay away from windows, shelves & things that could easily fall on top of you.
 * 3) Take cover, try to find something sturdy like a table, or desk.
 * 4) Doorways are the strongest foundations in the house, you could also stand under one of those.
 * 5) Don't be alarmed during the frist main eartquake there will most likely be shakings.
 * 6) If in a high or large building stay as far away from stairs and elevators as possible.
 * 7) Ahead of time you and your family can get prepared with a kit of stuff handy like: helmets, flashlights, first aid kit, sturdy shoes, bottled water, and can food along with a can opener.
 * 8) And most important of all, remain calm.

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