Nearly 200 schools and over 100 fire stations would be damaged ; 37 hospitals and 67 police stations would be inoperable the day after the earthquake in the state of Missouri. Thousands of bridges would collapse and railways would be destroyed, paralyzing travel across southeast Missouri.
How overdue is the New Madrid Fault?
The current best guess, the MGS states, is that the NMSZ is about 30 years overdue for a magnitude 6.3 earthquake — one strong enough to damage ordinary buildings and overturn heavy furniture.
What states would be affected by the New Madrid Fault?
Earthquakes that occur in the New Madrid Seismic Zone potentially threaten parts of eight American states: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Mississippi .
When was the last time the New Madrid Fault went off?
The last strong earthquake (magnitude 6.7) in the NMSZ occurred near Charleston, Missouri on Oct. 31, 1895 . A magnitude 6.3 earthquake near Lepanto, Arkansas on Jan. 5, 1843 and was the next prior earthquake of this magnitude.
How active is the New Madrid Fault line?
The zone is active, averaging more than 200 measured seismic events per year . The New Madrid Fault extends approximately 120 miles southward from the area of Charleston, Missouri, and Cairo, Illinois, through Mew Madrid and Caruthersville, following Interstate 55 to Blytheville, then to Marked Tree Arkansas.
How likely is a New Madrid seismic earthquake?
And how likely is it? Seismologists estimate that the New Madrid Seismic Zone has a 25 percent to 40 percent chance of producing a significant quake within the next 50 years, according to Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.
Will the New Madrid fault erupt?
Derald Neugebauer said. While New Madrid has been relatively dormant for hundreds of years, it is still possible it could produce a major earthquake. “One school of thought is geologists that say it’s a dead fault, it’s not moving, it’s not creeping,” Dumond said. “But seismic activity has been recorded since 1972.”
Which state has the highest earthquake risk?
The 16 states with the highest earthquake hazard from natural earthquakes are Alaska , Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Where is the largest fault line in the world?
The Ring of Fire is the largest and most active fault line in the world, stretching from New Zealand, all around the east coast of Asia, over to Canada and the USA and all the way down to the southern tip of South America and causes more than 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes.
Which two states have the least number of earthquakes?
Florida and North Dakota are the states with the fewest earthquakes. Antarctica has the least earthquakes of any continent, but small earthquakes can occur anywhere in the World.
When was the big earthquake on the New Madrid fault?
Earthquake of January 23, 1812
The main shock occurred at 9:15 am, and its magnitude was estimated at 7.5. The location of the earthquake’s epicentre is controversial, but it is thought to have been located in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri, along a fault that runs perpendicular to the Reelfoot Fault.
What would happen if the New Madrid Fault had an earthquake?
Nearly 200 schools and over 100 fire stations would be damaged; 37 hospitals and 67 police stations would be inoperable the day after the earthquake in the state of Missouri. ... Scientists say they believe there is a 7% to 10% chance such an earthquake strikes within the New Madrid Seismic Zone in the next 50 years.
What is the largest earthquake ever recorded?
| Mag Alternative Name | 1. 9.5 Valdivia Earthquake | 2. 9.2 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, Prince William Sound Earthquake, Good Friday Earthquake | 3. 9.1 Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake, 2004 Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami, Indian Ocean Earthquake | 4. 9.1 Tohoku Earthquake |
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What type of fault line is the New Madrid?
The New Madrid seismic zone of the central Mississippi River valley has been interpreted to be a right-lateral strike-slip fault zone with a left stepover restraining bend (Reelfoot reverse fault).
Is a 10.0 earthquake possible?
No, earthquakes of magnitude 10 or larger cannot happen . The magnitude of an earthquake is related to the length of the fault on which it occurs. ... The largest earthquake ever recorded was a magnitude 9.5 on May 22, 1960 in Chile on a fault that is almost 1,000 miles long...a “megaquake” in its own right.
Is an earthquake likely to affect Mississippi?
Louis. Earthquakes have occurred throughout Mississippi from the northeast corner to the coast but have clustered in northwestern Mississippi, perhaps related to the New Madrid Seismic Zone or the White River Fault Zone. ... An earthquake need not be located within the state to affect Mississippi.
