The probability of magnitude 6.0 or greater in the near future is considered significant; a 90% chance of such an earthquake by 2040 has been given. In the June 23, 2005, issue of the journal "Nature", the odds of another 8.0 event within 50 years were estimated to be between 7 and 10 percent.
Because of the unconsolidated sediments which are a major part of the underlying geology of the Mississippi embayment, as well as the river sediments along the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys to the north and east (note the red fingers extending up these valleys in the image above), large quakes have the potential for more widespread damage than major quakes on the west coast.
Comparison: the 1895 Charleston, Missouri, earthquake in the New Madrid seismic zone with the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake. Red indicates area of structural damage, yellow indicates area where shaking was felt.
Population of Major cities in danger:
- St. Louis, MO: (2006) 2,801,033
- Memphis, TN: (2006) 1,260,581
- Chicago, IL: (2006) 9,505,747
- Detroit, MI: (2006) 4,468,966
- Indianapolis, IN: (2006) 1,984,644
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Most of the time when we talk about natural disasters in the forum the conversation is mostly about hurricanes in the east and gulf coast. Tornadoes in the central US. Yellowstone supervolcano blowing its top. Earthquakes and tsunamis in the west coast, and many others. But we have never discussed the real possibility of a major disaster happening in the core of the United States that could have repercusions accross almost 2/3 of the country. I just wanted to know if anyone living in the danger area if you have any plan in case of a major earthquake in the area, or does you city have preparation plans. It's a real danger zone and there nothing that says that what happened in 1811 & 1812 won't happen again. The difference now is the temendous increase in population compared to back in the beginning of the 19th century.
(Biggest quake to be centered in the state)
