If your earthquake awareness is mostly that of California, you better think again… You may be surprised to discover that earthquakes happen even where YOU live.
Being prepared for an earthquake is something that many people (outside of obvious earthquake fault zones) don’t think about. You might have a look at the following maps, recently updated by the USGS (United States Geological Survey) which indicate new information on seismic hazards throughout the U.S.
New (2014-JUL) USGS maps extend the risk zones for earthquakes across much more of the country. The maps were updated from new seismic data collected over the past several years as well as improved computational modeling.
A number of regions have a higher potential for bigger earthquakes than previously thought. Among them is much of the eastern U.S.
There is also expanded earthquake risk around the New Madrid Seismic Zone in southwestern Missouri; the zone stretches into Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. A series of earthquakes up to magnitude 8.1 devastated that area in 1811 and 1812.
2014 Update of the United States National Seismic Hazard Maps
USGS
Central and Eastern U.S. including Mw2.5 and greater earthquakes occurring since 1700
USGS
Western United States with earthquakes Mw3.5 and greater since 1850
USGS
Being prepared for an earthquake isn’t too much different from ordinary preparedness – except for the unique hazards which come with earthquakes (e.g falling objects). One of the earthquake-specific preparedness things you can do is to either secure heavy or dangerous objects that are near your bed and/or remove any hanging objects that may be near or above the bed. You spend about a third of your life in bed – so odds are that an earthquake might happen while you’re sleeping.
If there is a strong earthquake where you live, and if you have natural gas to your home, be especially aware of any gas leak. It’s a very good idea to always keep a gas shut-off tool directly on your gas meter (next to the shut-off), or at least nearby and not buried somewhere in your tools.
Keep fire extinguishers in the home. Earthquakes have been known to start fires (from gas or other fuel leaks, etc..).
When I lived in Alaska most of the homes had natural gas for heat. Therefore, your hot water heater was also run on gas. I noted the the SOP for installing hot water tanks was that they be strapped to the wall in two places along the length of the hot water tank.
When I first saw this I wondered “What in the world…” until the first quake (small one)hit. Makes good sense anywhere.
Similarly, during the period of my life when I lived in California, the hot water tank (gas) was strapped to the wall (as was some of our shelving units). We experienced our share of earthquakes while there (I’ll never forget the first one đ )
Don’t forget those bigger & bigger TVs! They’ll topple over if you’re kid’s playing too rough with their game system let alone a quake. Get that stuff strapped to the wall &/or the table it’s on.
Bookcases can be hazards too. But usually they don’t need to be bolted to the wall. Just making sure it’s filled in properly where the heavier items are on the bottom (big heavy books) & the lighter stuff on top (decorations, etc) will usually give it enough sway to survive but not tip on top of you in a quake. It’s not the most aesthetic, but it could save your life!
It’s also good to know what type of building you’re in. If you’re in a 60’s or earlier type building that has plaster & metal & stuff as the building materials then you can usually ride out a quake in a doorway (with your back to the door so it doesn’t shut on your fingers &/or smack you in the face). But if you’re in a modern building that’s only held up with lumber & drywall then don’t trust the doorway! But your best bet is to duck & cover no matter where you are. Just try to pick something sturdy to duck under & not a glass coffee table like a guy I heard about did. lots of broken glass….
Like the maps Ken. Thanks!
Thanks for the earth quake map. I thought there were 0 earthquakes where I lived in human recorded history, but I see there was a teenie weenie one at one time in 150 years. 2014 map has my area in the clear though. I thought I had a perfect location without natural disasters, now that teenie weenie dot ruined it all for me :-0
You made me chuckle a teenie weenie bit Stardust, thanks!
Ken, I still live in Alaska and we are still part of US. Alas my earthquake awareness is stymied by these maps….I’m guessing by the color of the circles that Alaska is a red state in more ways than one.
The lower 48 was the focus of the USGS study đ
it is my impression there is more and more seismic activity all over North America.
it is tough to decide if that is the case, or just a case of more awareness via more media/internet/etc..
???
Great Info Ken
And here I though it was the dog snoring really loud, maybe that was a small tremor? hehehe
Seems rather quiet here in the Four Corners, unlike CA. Glad I moved in the 80s, too many people and to much racket going on all the time.
NRP
I live in Conn, and Plainfield Ct has had several low level shakes in the past several weeks. The largest one was 3.3. Most of the homes in that area were built in the early 1900 & some were built in the Colonial times. The local residence are concerned of house collapsing..The scientist can not determine what cause these latest quakes. Goes to show us that we are prone to have these quakes any where.
Some say that some earthquakes are caused by fracking.
Don’t know how to verify that.
We’ve had a bunch in the Dallas area that’s for sure
im in west ny state we have had some MINOR quakes before nothing bad YET and I hope we never do
I def believe fracking has something to do with it.
I live in the southern end of the yellow blob in California. We don’t have any quakes centered here, but we do feel all of our neighbors’ shaking. When I was a kid we lived near Los Angeles though…I remember waking up before dawn one morning with all the books off my headboard falling on me. By the time I woke up enough to know what was happening it was over. It was the 1971 San Fernando quake.
“‘Earthquake swarm’ near Texas fracking sites alarms residents
Seismologist acknowledges cluster of earthquakes is unusual
Posted: Jan 23, 2015 5:00
There have been dozens of earthquakes in the past few months. They now average about one a day, although some days bring many more.
recently felt 12 earthquakes in one day
Texas, known for floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires, not earthquakes.”
seems concerning
interesting….
“Why Is It Legal to Cause Fracking Earthquakes In Colorado?
January 23, 2015
falls in the âYou Canât Make This Shit Upâ category in Colorado.
Yesterday it was reported that a fracking waste companyâNGL Water Solutions DJ LLCâthat was linked to causing earthquakes is allowed by Gov. John Hickenlooperâs appointed oil and gas commission to increase their fracking waste injection operations, and it was determined that the company did not violate any law or rule when they likely caused the earthquakes.
Further, not only are the fracking waste injections increasing, but the earthquakes are continuing, the biggest of which, in May 2014, was a 3.4 on the richter scale that shook homes and rattled nerves across the region. And, the director of the Governorâs oil and gas commission stated, âWe have actively managed this particular circumstance in a way that we feel comfortable with.â
You can read the latest on this Colorado earthquake morass in the BizWest newspaper.”
oh gee, more “good” news…
“Worst Fracking Wastewater Spill in North Dakota Leaks 3 Million Gallons Into River
January 23, 2015
Three million gallons of brine, a salty, toxic byproduct of oil and natural gas productionâalso known as fracking wastewaterâspilled from a leaking pipe in western North Dakota. State officials say itâs the worst spill of its kind since the fracking boom began in the state.
as Marketplaceâs Scott Tong reports yesterday, there could be trouble ahead. He interviews Duke geochemist Avner Vengosh who has sampled frack wastewater and has found that âNorth Dakotaâs is 10 times saltier than the ocean, that endangers aquatic life and trees, and it has ammonium and radioactive elements.â