An Earthquake!

[teresafannin]

I am terrified at the mere thought of an earthquake or hurricane, but not at a tornado. I have lived in "Tornado Alley" my whole life & barely missed being in the middle of the big one this past spring here in North Texas. I think it is because I know what a tornado is like, I have never been through a hurricane or earthquake. While I was out of town, a friend told me there was an earthquake in the Texas Panhandle, I didn't realize there was even a possibility of earthquakes here.

 

[Magic Merlin]

In the past 300 years, most major earthquakes that occurred outside of Alaska and California generally occurred in sparsely-populated areas, therefore, damage and fatalities were minimized. But historically, some eathquakes have taken place in areas that have since become heavily populated over the last three centuries.

Among the largest of these earthquakes, are three that occurred in 1811/1812 near New Madrid, Missouri. They are among the largest earthquakes of recorded history, affecting the topography more than any other single earthquake on the North American continent, including the largest of those in Alaska and California.

Judging from the known effects, these earthquakes were of a magnitude 8 or higher as measured on the Richter Scale. They were felt over the entire United States outside of the Pacific coast. Large areas of land sank into the earth, new lakes were formed, the course of the Mississippi River was changed, and forests were destroyed over an area of 150,000 acres. Many houses at New Madrid, Missouri were thrown down, as described by witnesses. Houses, gardens, and fields were completely swallowed up according to some sources. But fatalities and damage were low, because the area was
sparsely populated at that time.

The probability for an earthquake in this area of magnitude 6 or greater is significant in the near future, with a 50% chance by the year 2000 and a 90% chance by the year 2040.

Los Angeles can expect to receive significant damage by movement on the San Andreas Fault, or the Newport-Inglewood or other neighboring faults, most likely within the next 25 years. But the east and midwest states also face danger of earthquakes of immense proportions, repetitions of known earthquakes such as the 1886 Charleston, S.C., earthquake, the 1755 Boston quake, and the Jamaica Bay earthquake hundreds of years ago on New York's Long Island.

The largest of all of these however, was the 1811-1812 series of three earthquakes that occurred on the New Madrid Fault (located between St. Louis and Memphis with the epicenter located beneath the Mississippi River), which shook the entire united States. The next time the New Madrid Fault produces such a quake, it is estimated 60 percent of Memphis will be devastated, leaving over $50 Billion in damage and thousands at risk of death. Memphis has looked down the barrel of a loaded seismic gun for decades, but has done virtually nothing to prepare for it because this area of the United States is usually not associated with earthquakes.

One thing you should always remember though, is that we can not predict when earthquakes will occur. We can give you stastistics on the probablility of when they will occur, but no one can actually predict when they will happen. People that live in the midwest are at a much greater danger of being affected by Tornados than earthquakes.


[Edited by Magic Merlin on 09-04-2000 at 07:31 AM]

 

[Naked Hunny]

Its true that you never know when or where an earthquake will hit. I live in a small valley completely surrounded by mountains in Pennsylvainia!! Well gosh darn dangit about 5 yrs ago we experienced our first earthquake and have been having one every few months ever since. Apparently there is a small fault line about 20 miles from my home!! These are not large earthquakes i believe the largest was 4.7 (dont quote me on that) but because we are completely surrounded by granite, limestone, and coal the areas outside of your valley did not feel any of these quakes!! Hell a friend called me a liar for telling him we had an earthquake but hey who woulda thunk and earthquake in PA!!

 

[Sonora]

New Madrid moved about 10-12 years ago. I was standing on the top row of bleachers at the softball diamond and at first thought it was just some kids playing, junping on the bleachers. Looking around to see who's kids were pissing me off, I realized that there weren't any around. Then I noticed all the players on the field looking around and up to the sky. Then the lightpoles in center field started swaying. It was really weird. I won't say that it was scary, just weird.

 

[Magic Merlin]

Update on the Earthquake!

The earthquake I described here yesterday morning measured 5.2 on the Richter Scale, left a five year old boy in critical condition with a head injury and early estimates are of $5-$15 million in damages in and near the City of Napa, California.

One woman opened her eyes to the sight of her 30-inch television flying across the room and landing beside her in bed. Water mains ruptured, power lines fell, windows shatterd, chimneys collapsed and dozens of people left homeless.

The 5 year old boy was struck by bricks tumbling form a chimney while he slept. He is expected to recover.

All in all, everyone was very lucky there weren't more injuries.

 

[April]

Re: Update on the Earthquake!

The 5 year old boy was struck by bricks tumbling form a chimney while he slept. He is expected to recover.

How does that happen? Was he sleeping near the fireplace? I'm trying to visualize that, and simply can't.

 

[Magic Merlin]

I have no idea how the bricks hit him April. The news has not commented on that aspect of the story.

hmmmmmmm? Now you've got me wondering the same thing..

 

[April]

Sorry, MM. I was in a critical mood last night. And sometimes I just wonder weird shit.

 

[Bigdog]

brick info

From what I saw on the news, the boy and his brother were sleeping in the living room in front of the fireplace. The chimney collapsed and fell thru the ceiling onto the boy. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The part of the news coverage that irked me was every newscast I saw reassuring everyone that none of the wineries suffered damage. Bricks are bouncing off heads, but the wine is OK. Sheesh!

 

[Magic Merlin]

Boy, your right about that Bigdog! Originally, I didn't realize how much damage was done, as the news only kept mentioning that the wineries were Okay! And then the pictures came out in the papers and I realized how much damage occurred in Napa.