Government warns of "catastrophic" U.S. quake, page 1
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Topic started on 20-11-2008 @ 11:43 PM by Bejing

Government warns of "catastrophic" U.S. quake



Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:42pm ESTBy Carey Gillam
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - People in a vast seismic zone in the southern and midwestern United States would face catastrophic damage if a major earthquake struck there and should ensure that builders keep that risk in mind, a government report said on Thursday
(visit the link for the full news article)


reply posted on 20-11-2008 @ 11:43 PM by Bejing
Why would Government make this statement today?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said if earthquakes strike in what geologists define as the New Madrid Seismic Zone, they would cause "the highest economic losses due to a natural disaster in the United States."
FEMA predicted a large earthquake would cause "widespread and catastrophic physical damage" across Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee -- home to some 44 million people.
Tennessee is likely to be hardest hit, according to the study that sought to gauge the impact of a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in order to guide the government's response.
In Tennessee alone, it forecast hundreds of collapsed bridges, tens of thousands of severely damaged buildings and a half a million households without water.
Transportation systems and hospitals would be wrecked, and police and fire departments impaired, the study said.
The zone, named for the town of New Madrid in Missouri's southeast corner, is subject to frequent mild earthquakes.
Experts have long tried to predict the likelihood of a major quake like those that struck in 1811 and 1812. These shifted the course of the Mississippi River and rang church bells on the East Coast but caused few deaths amid a sparse population.
"People who live in these areas and the people who build in these areas certainly need to take into better account that at some time there is ... expected to be a catastrophic earthquake in that area, and they'd better be prepared for it," said FEMA spokesperson Mary Margaret Walker.



(visit the link for the full news article)


reply posted on 20-11-2008 @ 11:51 PM by Alexander_Supertramp
reply to post by RFBurns



I could be wrong, but I thought we don't have any technology that can predict earthquakes?

Seems to me like FEMA might be fear-mongering.

[edit on 20-11-2008 by Alexander_Supertramp]


reply posted on 21-11-2008 @ 01:25 AM by paxnatus



reply posted on 21-11-2008 @ 01:31 AM by Shystargazer
reply to post by paxnatus



It makes ME wonder! I live in W. Kentucky. I've already felt two small tremors this year.


reply posted on 21-11-2008 @ 04:09 AM by duffster
reply to post by Bejing



ARRR can you pls give the link so i can take a look thanks
Sorry i missed your link in the other post thanks

[edit on 21-11-2008 by duffster]
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