Aftershocks rattle North Carolina town after governor’s visits

SPARTA, N.C. — A 2.9 aftershock rattled Sparta, North Carolina Tuesday after Gov. Roy Cooper toured the damage caused by Sunday morning’s 5.1 magnitude earthquake.

The weekend quake, which was the second strongest ever recorded in the state, caused significant damage to homes and businesses throughout the small mountain town.

The USGS website showed that the aftershock happened around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday and was centered almost 2 miles southeast of Sparta. Another aftershock was felt later in the day in the same area and measured a magnitude of 1.8.

>> Channel 9 reporter Ken Lemon was in Sparta Tuesday with the governor. Watch the video at the top of this webpage to see his full report.

“We are poor, but we are proud.”
I’m with Gov. Roy Cooper talking to local officials in Sparta hoping for aid. He visited Cooper homes damaged by the #earthquake that hit Sunday morning. Many people told me they lost their homes & insurance will not pay for the damage. pic.twitter.com/60lTHvwNxd
— Ken (@kenlemonWSOC9) August 11, 2020

Several aftershocks have been recorded in the hours and days after the main earthquake, though none of them caused any damage.

Rumbles from the main quake could be felt and heard more than 150 miles away in Charlotte and the surrounding areas. One church reported the shaking happened moments after reading about an earthquake in the Bible.

While earthquakes aren’t the kind of natural disaster we’re used to seeing here in our state, North Carolinians continue to show resiliency & help one another in the recovery process. Today, Gov. Cooper went to Sparta to meet with people who were impacted by Sunday’s earthquake. pic.twitter.com/QeJUp2En5F
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) August 11, 2020

Emergency managers and personnel have been in Sparta since shortly after the earthquake to assess damage in the town of approximately 1,700 people.

The latest aftershock occurred hours after Cooper toured the town to survey the damage. Cooper met with homeowners as well as with local and county officials.

Alleghany County’s sheriff says the county’s residents need help in repairing the damages.