Thursday, April 24, 2008

Repeat of the New Madrid Earthquake of 1811 Would be Worst Natural Distaster in U.S. History











More stuff to worry about, care of The Daily Galaxy:

If another quake of the magnitude of the New Madrid Quake of 1811 should hit the Midwest, it would be the worst natural disaster in American history. Overall the loss of life could run into the hundreds of thousands.

The 5.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the Midwest last Friday was felt from Kansas to Georgia, and aftershocks have continued over the weekend, However, according to geophysicists, the aftershocks could continue for months, emanating from the nation’s center, known to be a weird seismic locale.

Looks like we're in the periphery of the shake zone here in Savannah. Occasionally, we feel one of the tremors emanating from Charleston, S.C.. They're usually in the low threes.

I was awake during the one that hit last weekend, but I didn't feel anything.

2 comments:

Alan (Evil) Miller said...

The earthquake last week woke me here in Louisville. It shook the bed and rattled the windows. I worry about the New Madrid fault for many reasons. It's overdue by about 75 years, last time it caused the Mississippi to run backwards for several days, it rang church bells in D.C., and it could cause a great deal of the land along the Gulf Coast to liquify. Also my parents' house is pretty close to it and I'm not sure it would survive an 8.

John M. said...

Geez, I'd worry too. You're pretty close.