* From IEMA…
– Some of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in North America rocked the mostly rural Central U.S. between December 1811 and February 1812, including parts of southern Illinois. The strongest earthquakes in this series were estimated to be around magnitude 8.0, and were felt as far away as the East Coast.
Today, this multi-state region is heavily populated and highly developed. A similar earthquake now would cause widespread devastation to buildings, utilities, roads, bridges and other infrastructure, as well as result in many injuries and deaths. While damage would be less severe in other parts of Illinois, utility outages, road closures and disruptions to deliveries of essential supplies would significantly impact the lives of most Illinoisans.
Recognizing this serious risk, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies will promote earthquake preparedness throughout February.
“Southern Illinois is adjacent to two earthquake zones, so the risk of a major earthquake is very real,” said IEMA Acting Director Joe Klinger. “We can’t predict when the next devastating earthquake will occur, but we can help people learn how to protect themselves and reduce damage to their homes.”
Klinger said people need to remember to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” when they feel the ground shaking. The phrase prompts people to “Drop” down to the floor, take “Cover” under a sturdy desk, table or other furniture, and “Hold On” to the furniture item and be prepared to move with it until the shaking ends.
There are several steps people can take to help prevent injuries and property damage at home, including:
• Strapping water heaters and large appliances to wall studs
• Anchoring overhead light fixtures
• Fastening shelves to wall studs and securing cabinet doors with latches
• Learning how to shut off gas, water and electricity in case the lines are damaged
* But folks up north have little to fear, according to the Tribune…
Seth Stein, a professor of geological sciences at Northwestern University, has written a book about the New Madrid zone disputing much of the talked-about widespread damage of the 19th century earthquakes that hit Illinois.
In Northern Illinois “the hazard is so small” for earthquakes that taking measures like strapping in large furniture is probably unnecessary, Stein said.
“If you were going to spend a dollar on a restraining strap, I’d buy a lottery ticket,” Stein said.
On the other hand, he said, folks in a place like Carbondale at the southern tip of the state may want to consider taking such steps. Even there, though, “the risk (of a substantial earthquake) is not huge.” […]
Stein says it’s unlikely an earthquake as strong as the ones in the 19th century could hit Illinois again in the next hundreds of years. Even if one did, Northern Illinois would likely face little, if any, damage, he said.
“The more you know about it, the less you worry about it,” Stein said.
- Illinois Geologist - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 10:02 am:
Whether or not you live in an earthquake zone, it’s a good idea to take those precautions. They are relatively inexpensive and can prevent other household accidents.
For geologists, the New Madrid Seismic zone remains as a bit of a question mark especially in terms of how big those earthquakes were and how likely they are to occur in the future. The Wabash Valley Fault Zone, between southern Illinois and Indiana is also a concern and a question mark. There in no doubt that these two fault zones can generate damaging earthquakes.
For what its worth, when I lived in southern Illinois, I had EQ insurance. I live up north now, and I don’t have it.
- FormerParatrooper - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 10:02 am:
USGS has the seismic mapping for Illinois.
For those interested in such things it goes into detail about the depth and magnitudes of earthquake activity.
- CharlieKratos - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 10:03 am:
It’s nice that they’re making preparations for fracking.
- EarthquakeSmart - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 10:05 am:
Not that it really matters, but technically what you want to do is take cover next to the furniture, not under it. When the roof caves in, you want that furniture to hold it up, but not contribute to your own crushing. Also, avoid doorways and stairways. Those things will cut your sorry body in half.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 10:07 am:
I think being prepared for a sizable earthquake around I-70 and south of it would be wise.
- MOD - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 10:09 am:
Classic fallacy there on saying that it’s so unlikely it’s not worth the general population taking any preventative steps. There was no earthquake threat in central Virginia and they had a quake back in 2011. In Japan buildings were rated to withstand up to a 7.5 magnitude quake because anything stronger was “highly unlikely” and they got crushed by a 9.0. Understanding what to do during an earthquake is hugely important because it’s not uncommon for people to travel to places where there is a higher risk (i.e. California) and they should take 2 minutes to learn the basics of what to do.
- dupage dan - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 10:27 am:
Re earthquakes, it’s never a problem until suddenly it is. I don’t know the geology in southern Illinois but around these parts there’s a lot of bedrock. In SF, the worse hit areas of the most recent large earthquake were, ironically enough, in the areas where the debris from the 1906 earthquake were dumped. Kinda like the 1871 Chicago fire debris that was used to grow the city eastward.
- Res Melius - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 11:26 am:
Homeowners should check the earthquake zone maps. Due to ground/soil characteristics, the potential New Madrid damage tends to follow the rivers. Illinois risk map follows. I live in Central Illinois and I have earthquake insurance. The insurers know there is a risk. The tremors in Oklahoma and Texas that may be related to fracking/drilling activities are troubling.
http://www.illinois.gov/iema/Preparedness/publishingimages/equakmap.jpg
- Todd - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 11:49 am:
I have friends at the Army Corp. of Engineers. they say if the quakes of 1811 & 12 were to hit today, not a 4 story building would be standing in Chicago.
They have run several simulations on things it the damge does extend all the way up here and how bad depends on the epicenter.
preperations are a
- How Ironic - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 11:55 am:
Having relocated to CA from IL, I have to say that not everywhere here is earthquake prone. I’m more n/central and with the exception to the Napa quake, its generally pretty non-existent in this area.
I think Springfield actually had a higher chance of earthquake than where we are now.
- Product of the '60's - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:04 pm:
I can’t cross the Poplar Street Bridge ( I 55 ) over Old Man River into St.Louis without wondering about the New Madrid Fault….especially in the summer with the construction as it’s often a 10 minute crawl with bumper to bumper cars/18 wheelers.
I also say a thank you to the engineers who built it to withstand that dense load weight.