Measuring the Damage ©1995 The Regents of the University of California Mercali Scale<.p The Mercali Scale measures an earthquake according to the observable results or effects the damage caused, the sensations described by people, etc. (Mercali numbers do not correspond directly to Richter numbers; for example, V on the Mercali Scale is not equivalent to 5 on the Richter Scale). Mercali Magnitude Observable Results and Effects I     Most people do not notice,  animals may be uneasy,  can be detected by a       seismograph II    Hanging objects sway back and forth III    Many people feel the movement,  parked cars may rock IV     Doors, windows, and shelves may rattle,  people indoors can feel movement V      Light furniture moves,  pictures fall off walls,  objects fall from shelves VI     Nearly everyone feels movement, light furniture falls over,  windows may crack VII    Some people fall over,  walls may crack VIII   Heavy furniture falls over,  some walls crumble IX     Many people panic,  some buildings collapse,  dams crack X      Railroad lines are bent,  most buildings are damaged,  roads crack XI     Bridges collapse,  buried pipes break,  most buildings collapse XII    All manmade structures are destroyed