Likelihood of Missouri quake depends on many unknown factors

The chance of an earthquake striking Missouri is high, nearly 200 have struck in the last year, the latest just Wednesday. Labeled as "event nmhnw0203b" by the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake wasn't a truly earth-shaking event one would notice, at magnitude 1.5, but it's evidence that Missouri isn't immune to the hazard.

The fear, of course, is that the New Madrid fault will let loose as it did in 1811 and 1812 in a series of earthquakes that was felt over a spread of nearly 2 million square miles. The town of New Madrid was destroyed by the series of earthquakes but overall the earthquakes caused relatively little damage to man-made structures due mainly to a dearth of them in the affected area.

February is Earthquake Awareness Month in Missouri and Dennis Kimrey, director of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, said that giving advice for preparing for an earthquake is difficult because of so many unknown factors.

"We won't know what's going to happen until it happens," Kimrey said. "It does make it hard for people to be serious about preparing."

Predicting when and where and with what intensity an earthquake will strike is not settled science, but Kimrey said you can prepare for a general emergency that covers many contingencies as a good way to be ready for the possibility.

"It's really hard to prepare without knowing more but there are some general ideas to follow," Kimrey said. "Get some things together because you can expect that there will be no help for 72 hours. Start with water, non-perishable food and blankets."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a list of supplies it recommends: Flashlight and extra batteries, portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries, first aid kit and manual, emergency food and water, manual can opener, essential medicines, cash and credit cards, and sturdy shoes.

If you are indoors when an earthquake strikes then drop to the ground; take cover by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and hold on until the shaking stops. If there isn't a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.

If you are outdoors move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops.

The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls.

More advice from FEMA about earthquakes can be found at http://www.fema

.gov/hazard/earthquake/.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources also offers a Web site with information about Earthquake Awareness Month: http://www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/earthaware2010.htm.