6.0 Earthquake in the gulf

[curtschu]

There was a 6.0 magnitude Earthquake 260 miles SW of Tampa today.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,213221,00.html

Anyone else think there might be a new big sink hole out there.

[Bill Rotella]

TAMPA, Fla. — A strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday sent shockwaves from Louisiana to southwest Florida, but no damage was reported, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The earthquake, centered about 260 miles southwest of Tampa, was too small to trigger tsunami danger, the agency said. The USGS received almost 1,500 reports from people as far away as North Carolina who felt the 10:56 a.m. temblor.

"This is a fairly unique event. There is no danger," said Don Blakeman, an earthquake analyst with the National Earthquake Information Center. "I wouldn't expect any substantial damage, but it is possible there will be some minor damage."

Florida counties along the gulf called the state emergency operations center with reports of tremors, but no significant damage was reported, spokesman Mike Stone said. Gov. Jeb Bush was informed of the situation, Stone said.

Although the earthquake was classified as unusually strong, it was not powerful enough to generate a tsunami or other dangerous wave activity, Blakeman said.

The epicenter is an unusual location for earthquake activity, but scientists recorded a magnitude 5.2 temblor in the same location on Feb. 10.

"Technically, it's not Florida," Blakeman said. "It's out in the Gulf of Mexico. This kind of occurrence is unusual in that spot, especially for an earthquake of this size."

The most prevalent vibration, which last for about 20 seconds, was felt on the gulf coast of Florida and in southern Georgia, Blakeman said. But residents in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana also called in reports.

[Line Squirrel]

Shoot, I was doing a solo in LR about that time. It was sooo beautiful I thought I felt the earth move under my feet (fins). Guess it was just a silly little 6mag earthquake

[wallacm]

i was watching tv, it was definetly weird, but i havent seen any damage around St. Pete, fl

[Cave Ranger]

If earthquakes were as common to Florida as say California or Japan I wonder how many of us would be still willing to Cave dive.
Thank goodness they are not common to this area but this proves that it "could" happen. Earthquakes are on record as to having occured in Florida once in a Blue Moon.
I hope I'm Hang Gliding during the next one.

[Angie Reim]

I felt vibrations but I thought it was just me reacting to the back pain pills the doctor gave me. . Everbody else in the grocery store kept walking around like every thing was cool......Being a native floridian I wouldn't know what an earthquake is supposed to feel like anyway.

Six hours later I hear what it was all about.

[tomhauburn]

The weird thing about this is I was having a customer talk about cave accidents and how an Earth Quake might be a bad thing in a system with one exit. Then I get home to find out we had one. Hope it didn't close off any openings.
Tom

[Gibby]

The girlfriend and me were out late so as wobbly as I was this morning I wouldn’t have felt it myself if the epicenter was right under my house. But while drinking my coffee and checking the morning email I remember thinking I heard some of the scuba tanks clinking together. tink - tink - tink - tink - tink - tink - tink I think I raised an eye brow and turned at them for a moment and passed it off as something that must have come from outside. Maybe it was or maybe it wasn’t. I dont know. It was about the right time.

[stairman]

I thought it was the washing machine on the spin cycle.Yea Im trailor trash,but hey its paid for$$$$$$.

[OutlawCaver]

My buddy and I were in near zero vizibility in the basin at Eagle's Nest at the time. Never seen it worse. I suspect the rain has had an impact there.