Letter to the Editor

On being prepared for earthquakes

Friday, May 9, 2008

Dear Editor:

Many people do not take seriously the probability -- not the possibility -- that there will be a major earthquake in Missouri. This is partly due to the fact that they know neither their Missouri history nor their seismological history.

The worst earthquake in North American history occurred right here in our state. In Dec. 1811, a series of quakes along the New Madrid fault in southeastern Missouri, were so strong that the Mississippi River changed the way it flowed. The quake was so powerful that it cracked sidewalks in Philadelphia, set off church bells in Boston, and awakened President Madison at the White House.

No one knows for sure how strong the December 11 seismic event was. The Richter Scale had not yet been invented. The area was sparsely populated at the time, so casualties were light.

Today, the picture has changed. A major earthquake on the New Madrid fault (6.0 or stronger) could cause severe damage in a six-state area and disrupt vital services across the nation due to the fact it would be centered right in the middle of the country. St. Louis and Memphis would likely suffer serious to catastrophic damage. The impact in Southwest Missouri and the Kansas City area would probably be light to moderate, but the quake would be felt, and there could be minor damage.

Yes, Missouri is tornado country. It is heat wave country. It is also flash flood and ice storm country. However, it is also earthquake country. We need to be aware of this and be prepared. It is not a bad idea to buy earthquake insurance for your property and have an emergency earthquake kit on hand. Unlike the other four mentioned disasters at the beginning of this paragraph, an earthquake strikes without warning.

In addition to New Madrid, there are possible fault lines to the west, in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Scientists do not know much about these lines and their potential for damage should they erupt. However, these lines could affect Missouri just as much as a quake on the New Madrid fault. I would suggest anyone who wants further information from scientists and other professionals, check your local library or go online. This is a serious subject.

Sincerely,

David Shipp

Nevada