What is the name of the scale used to assess the effects or damage caused by an earthquake at a specific location?

The Modified Mercalli scale is specifically designed to assess the effects and damage caused by an earthquake at specific locations. This scale is qualitative and relies on observations of how people experience shaking and the extent of damage to buildings and structures, rather than measuring the seismic waves directly. It ranges from I (not felt) to XII (total destruction), providing a detailed description of the intensity of shaking and its consequences. This focus on the perceived effects in a given area makes it a valuable tool for understanding the localized impact of an earthquake, which differs from scales like the Richter and moment magnitude scales that quantify the overall energy released during an earthquake regardless of its effects on people and structures. The seismic intensity scale also conveys intensity but might not reference the specific local effects as distinctly as the Modified Mercalli scale does.