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Tag Archives: New Madrid Earthquakes Bicentennial

Do You Remember the Nov. 9, 1968, M5.4 Southern Illinois Earthquake?

This is Your Chance to Help

Do you remember the November 9, 1968, Magnitude 5.4 southern Illinois earthquake?  Did you experience shaking and do you remember where you were and what happened?

This earthquake was widely felt, and if you were living in the region at the time, it is scientifically important to note that you did or did not feel it.  It was the strongest felt earthquake in southern Illinois since the M6.6 Halloween 1895 earthquake near Charleston, Mo.

In commemoration of the upcoming 45th anniversary of this important earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey established a “Did You Feel It” site for people to record their shaking experience during this quake which was felt from Cleveland to Kansas City and Minneapolis to Atlanta.

This Isoseismal map shows lines of equal felt seismic intensity, measured on the Modified Mercalli scale. It is based on intensity estimates from data. Abridged from Seismicity of the United States, 1568-1989 (Revised), by Carl W. Stover and Jerry L. Coffman, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, United States Government Printing Office, Washington: 1993.

The quake occurred at about 11 a.m. local time and geologists can learn from hearing from you.  Your shaking experience will be converted to an Intensity map and scientists will use this information to strengthen a study of damage and intensity that was completed soon after the earthquake by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey and St. Louis University.

This USGS website will ask for your zip code — where you were that day and the address — on that day (not now).  This is needed only to help identify the differences in earthquake shaking from location to location.  As you work your way through the website’s queries, it will ‘automatically’ measure scientific information about what you experienced.  This information is very important to today’s earthquake scientists.

 

 

Posted on Nov 08, 2012

Southeast Missouri Earthquakes

How many magnitude 2.0 and greater earthquakes occurred from 2009-2011?

Earthquake occurrences in southeast Missouri are not rare, but in most cases are not felt on a widespread basis.  Most Missourians know at least something about the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the historic earthquake events that took place in 1811 and 1812.  During that time, numerous large earthquakes rocked the region almost continuously for two months.  Although a large earthquake has not occurred along the seismic zone in many years, it is still an active fault zone and many small earthquakes occur every year.  Most of these occur deep below the surface and are of a small magnitude.  However, the region does generate several earthquakes per year that are felt by area residents.  Sixty-eight earthquakes that ranged between Magnitude 2.0 and Magnitude 3.9 shook southeast Missouri from 2009-2011.  Check out these maps on our website for locations of earthquakes in southeast Missouri.

Posted on Oct 01, 2012

Magnitude 3.3 earthquake recorded near Marston, Missouri Sunday, June 17, 2012

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 3.3 earthquake 9 miles southeast of Marston, Missouri at 8:40 a.m. Sunday, June 17, 2012.  The earthquake was four miles deep and only two miles northwest of Tiptonville, Tenn.  At this time 12 individuals reported having felt the shaking at locations in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Tennessee.  No reports of injuries or damage have been reported.  Visit this USGS site to learn more or to report shaking.

In February, nearly 900 people in 21 states reported shaking in M3.9 earthquake recorded Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012 near Sikeston, Mo.

This year marks the 200th Anniversary of the New Madrid Earthquakes, when a series of three to five major earthquakes (magnitude 7.0 or larger earthquakes) occurred in near the southeast Missouri town of New Madrid in the two month period between December 16, 1811 and February 7, 1812.  Learn more about earthquake potential in Missouri.  If you are traveling in the Missouri Bootheel and near Marston, be sure to visit the Missouri Department of Transportation’s new welcome center.  The center highlights the News Madrid earthquakes of 1811-12 and the region’s rich history.  –Joe

Posted on Jun 18, 2012

Earthquake Insight Field Trip Planned for April 10

A few seats still available!

Tuesday, April 10, the U.S. Geological Survey will host the eighth annual Earthquake Insight Field Trip.  This one-day outreach event will start and end in Memphis, Tenn.  Field trip participants will learn about the earthquake history of the central U.S. and current exposures to earthquake hazards in this area.  The trip is especially for non-scientists, such as emergency planners, business leaders, elected officials, media, finance and equity professionals, risk managers, portfolio managers, lenders, and business continuity planners.  The field trip will be led by geoscientists, engineers, and emergency planners who are active in current research and practice.  The final report of the first Earthquake Insight Field Trip, which was in 2005, is posted online. The route and content of each Earthquake Insight Field Trip since then has been unique.  For more information about this year’s event, visit this website, email Phyllis Steckel, or call 636-239-4013.

Posted on Apr 04, 2012

Nearly 900 people in 21 states reported last Tuesday’s Missouri earthquake

More than 866 people in 21 states reported last Tuesday’s earthquake

M3.9 earthquake, Feb. 21, 2012 near Sikeston, Mo.Following last Tuesday’s magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Sikeston, Missouri, nearly 900 people in 21 states reported shaking to the U.S. Geological Survey’s “Did you feel it?” website. 

The earthquake was originally reported by USGS to have been magnitude 4.0, but was later downgraded to M3.9.  Three subsequent quakes occurred in the following order; a magnitude 1.8 at 6:18 AM, a magnitude 2.4 at 1:05 PM and a magnitude 2.0 at 12:38 PM.  An earthquake with a magnitude 2.0 is about the level at which one can typically be felt.

Over the past five years Missouri has experienced more than 24 earthquakes of that magnitude or greater.  February is Earthquake Awareness Month in Missouri.  Learn more about earthquake potential in Missouri.  –Joe

Posted on Feb 28, 2012

Magnitude 4.0 earthquake recorded today near Sikeston, Missouri

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 4.0 earthquake 16 miles southeast of Sikeston, Missouri at 3:58 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012.  The earthquake was 3.1 miles deep.  At this time more than 200 individuals have reported having felt the shaking at locations in Missouri, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee.  No reports of injuries or damage have been received at this time.  Visit this USGS site to learn more or to report shaking.  This year marks the 200th Anniversary of the New Madrid Earthquakes, when a series of three to five major earthquakes (magnitude 7.0 or larger earthquakes) occurred in near the southeast Missouri town of New Madrid in the two month period between December 16, 1811 and February 7, 1812.  Learn more about earthquake potential in Missouri.  –Joe

Posted on Feb 21, 2012

Learn about Earthquakes Feb. 18 at Onondaga Cave State Park

Plan to attend — February is Earthquake Awareness Month in Missouri

“The Earth Moves Under Our Feet,” an event in recognition of Earthquake Awareness Month, will be held Saturday, Feb. 18 at Onondaga Cave State Park near Leasburg.  The free event, scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to noon, is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Geology and Land Survey and Missouri State Parks.

The park’s visitor center will feature displays relating to earthquakes for visitors to explore. At 10:30 a.m., Edie Starbuck, one of our geologists, will present a program on earthquake basics, history, earthquake preparedness and the effects earthquakes have had, and will have, on the land and human population. This program will include an introduction to the State Emergency Management Agency programs related to earthquakes. After the program, a video about earthquakes in the Midwest will be shown. There will be time for questions and answers.

Onondaga Cave State Park is located seven miles southeast of the Leasburg exit off of Interstate 44 on Highway H. For more information about the event, contact the park at 573-245-6576.

For more information about earthquakes in Missouri, visit our geohazards webpage.  –Joe

 

Posted on Feb 16, 2012

Thanks for Participating in the ShakeOut

Almost 480,000 Missourians registered to participate in this important exercise

Thanks to everyone who participated Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, in the 2012 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut! More than 2.4 million people across nine states participated by practicing DROPPING to the ground, taking COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and HOLDING ON until the exercise ended.

Some of our staff spent part of the morning at Immanuel Lutheran School where Brenna McDonald, one of our geologists, taught about earthquakes and preparedness.  Afterword, Brenna and Hylan Beydler, our information officer, led the students in participating in the Great Central ShakeOut.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of a series three earthquakes believed to have been magnitude 7.0 or larger that occurred near the southeast Missouri town of New Madrid. Learn more about earthquake potential in Missouri. Visit the ShakeOut website for more information about preparedness.

 

February is Earthquake Awareness Month in Missouri.  Visit this site for information about public awareness activities throughout the month.  –Joe

 

Posted on Feb 10, 2012

Earthquake – Feb. 7, 1812 at 3:45 a.m. CST

200 Years Ago Today

February 7, 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the third and final principal earthquake along the New Madrid Seismic Zone in the winter of 1811-1812.  This earthquake, which was preceded by a number of noticeably significant shakes, occurred about 3:45 a.m. and is believed to have equaled or exceeded the magnitude of the two previous principal shocks of December 16, 1811 and January 23, 1812 (estimated at magnitude 7.0 or greater).

It is reported that the town of New Madrid, Mo. was completely destroyed and the general landscape was characterized by ground warping, earth fissures, sandblows, and landslides.  An eyewitness account from a citizen living in Cincinnati, Ohio noted that this earthquake caused greater ground movement than ever before seen and toppled many chimneys and damaged homes.  Another account from a settler living near present-day Louisville, Kentucky suggested that “If we do not get away from here, the ground is going to eat us alive.”

One of the most notable occurrences during this February 7 earthquake was the subsidence of land.  In some instances it was reported that the land subsided up to 6 meters (19 feet) and altered the natural drainages in the area ultimately creating several lakes.  The most significant and widely known of these was Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee.

The U.S. Geological Survey has a number of photos that depict the area taken about 100 years after the earthquakes.

Learn about earthquake hazard in Missouri.  Join us today, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 at 10:15 a.m. for the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake preparedness exercise.  – Joe

Posted on Feb 07, 2012

ShakeOut — Tuesday, Feb. 7 @ 10:15 a.m.

2.2 Million participants and counting — sign up today!

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at 10:15 a.m., thousands of people across at least eight states will participate in the 2012 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake preparedness drill.

Everyone is encouraged to register to participate in the drill, which will highlight “Drop, Cover and Hold On,” and other protective actions people should take during an earthquake. Registered ShakeOut participants will be counted in this earthquake drill and will receive updates about ShakeOut news and information about earthquakes and preparedness. Learn more and register to participate in the ShakeOut.

February is earthquake awareness month in Missouri and we are again partnering with the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, state and federal emergency management agencies, and others to promote awareness and to encourage people to be prepared in the event of an earthquake. Many other government agencies, businesses, organizations, and community groups are also promoting the ShakeOut to their members and constituents.

More than three million people in 11 states practiced “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” last April, as part of the First Annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of a series three earthquakes believed to have been magnitude 7.0 or larger that occurred near the southeast Missouri town of New Madrid.  –Joe

Posted on Feb 06, 2012