Chart of the Mercalli Intensity Scale, starting with an intensity of 1 and going up to an intensity of 13. This table is an abridged copy of the Mercalli Intensity Scale.Use the following eyewitness account to determine the damage inflicted by this seismic event:
I was driving home when the earthquake hit.It's a good thing I wasn't far from home, because I had to pull over to the side of the road.The entrance to my neighborhood was blocked because of fallen trees and telephone polls.Thank goodness the school was built according to the earthquake codes! Although the school survived with a few cracks in the walls, most of the houses in the neighborhood had significant damage.The bricks from my chimney were all over the driveway.I had to crawl in through a window because I couldn't get the door open.Once I was in, I saw that it was blocked by one of my bookcases that had fallen over.

Question

Chart of the Mercalli Intensity Scale, starting with an intensity of 1 and going up to an intensity of 13.  This table is an abridged copy of the Mercalli Intensity Scale.Use the following eyewitness account to determine the damage inflicted by this seismic event:
I was driving home when the earthquake hit.It's a good thing I wasn't far from home, because I had to pull over to the side of the road.The entrance to my neighborhood was blocked because of fallen trees and telephone polls.Thank goodness the school was built according to the earthquake codes! Although the school survived with a few cracks in the walls, most of the houses in the neighborhood had significant damage.The bricks from my chimney were all over the driveway.I had to crawl in through a window because I couldn't get the door open.Once I was in, I saw that it was blocked by one of my bookcases that had fallen over.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Based on the eyewitness account, there was significant damage to most of the houses in the neighborhood and fallen trees and telephone polls blocked the entrance to the neighborhood. The bricks from the chimney were scattered over the driveway and a bookcase had fallen and blocked the door. These observations are indicative of an intensity level of VIII on the Mercalli Intensity Scale.

Chart of the Mercalli Intensity Scale, Starting with an Intensity