April 8, 2002 – While Monday's 11:01 a.m. earthquake registered only 3.5 on the Richter Scale, it was felt across St. Thomas and St. John. "It was close and shallow," said Gisella Baez, chief data analyst at the Puerto Rico Seismic Network at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez.
The earthquake occurred seven miles northwest of St. Thomas and 13 miles below the Earth's floor. It was centered at 18.4 degrees north latitude and 65.0 degrees west longitude.
Some V.I. residents reported experiencing a loud noise followed by several seconds of shaking that rattled windows. However, Enrique Rodriguez, busy in his office at the Time Center in the Fort Mylner area of St. Thomas, said he only felt the building rumble. "By the time I was alarmed, it was over," he said.
Somewhat stronger tremors in the upper 3-point and lower 4-point levels frequently occur in the Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico area. However, researchers say a big destructive one could hit the region, since the territory is in the same earthquake zone as quake-prone California.
An 1867 earthquake of magnitude 7.5 that occurred between St. Thomas and St. Croix generated a tsunami and resulted in 20 deaths in the Virgin Islands.
Monday's tremor was a reminder that Virgin Islands residents should be prepared for one that could cause major damage. "Whatever can be secured, should be secured," said Alvis Christian, St. John deputy director of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency. He said such objects as gas cylinders and bookshelves should be secured to prevent damage to the items themselves and to prevent them from hitting someone if they fall over during an earthquake.
Should a big earthquake hit, Christian said, people should as school children are taught: "Drop, cover and hold." This means, he said, that you should turn away from doors and windows, crouch under a desk or table, and if the desk or table moves, hold onto the legs and move with it.
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