| Intensity Level | Description |
|---|
| I | Not felt. |
| II | Felt only by a few people at rest. Suspended objects may swing. |
| III | Felt noticeably indoors. Many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Parked cars may rock slightly. |
| IV | Felt indoors by many, outdoors by few. Dishes, windows, doors rattle. Parked cars rock noticeably. |
| V | Felt by most; many awakened. Some dishes, windows broken. Unstable objects overturned. |
| VI | Felt by all. Some heavy furniture moves. Damage slight. |
| VII | Slight to moderate damage in well-built structures; considerable damage in poorly built structures; some chimneys broken. |
| VIII | Considerable damage in well-built structures. Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. |
| IX | Damage great in well-built structures, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations. |
| X | Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed. Rails bent. |
| XI | Few if any masonry structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Rails bent greatly. |
| XII | Damage total. Lines of sight and level are distorted. Objects thrown into the air. |