Geological Survey Program
Participate in Earthquake Awareness events being held in February
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Recent Earthquakes | Earthquake Awareness Month Activities | Preparedness Videos Created by Students
Two hundred years ago, Missourians experienced powerful earthquakes in the Bootheel region of the state. Three earthquakes, estimated at magnitude 7.0 or greater occurred in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) in the winter of 1811-12.
The NMSZ, located in southeastern Missouri, northeastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, western Kentucky and southern Illinois, is the nation's most active seismic zone east of the Rocky Mountains. The zone cuts across the Mississippi River in three places and the Ohio River in two places. More than 200 small earthquakes occur in region each year.
The devastating magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake that occurred March 11, 2011 in northern Honshu, Japan makes us acutely aware that earthquakes can occur without warning. While many earthquakes do not cause loss of life, they are a natural hazard that no one can predict and there are things we can do to be better prepared in the event a damaging earthquake occurs in Missouri.
Each February Missouri observes Earthquake Awareness Month. To raise awareness, geologists with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will partner with local, state and federal agencies and organizations by participating in a number of public activities by providing scientific data about the New Madrid Seismic Zone, mapping for risk assessment, and geologic information about the basics of earthquakes. Missourians are encouraged to attend any of the following public events. Other venues and activities may be added.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Sunday, Jan. 22 -- Ste. Genevieve: The Bolduc House Museum in Ste. Genevieve will mark the bicentennial of the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. From noon to 4 p.m., the museum will offer three presentations to commemorate and educate about the powerful earthquakes that shook the region 200 years ago. At 1 p.m., Emily Jaycox of the Missouri History Museum Library will present “Aftershocks in the Courtroom: New Madrid Land Claims & the Genealogist.” Dr. Frank Nickell of Southeast Missouri State’s Center for Regional History will present “The New Madrid Earthquakes in Historical Perspective” at 2 p.m. Hymns Inspired by the New Madrid Earthquakes will begin at 3 p.m. The songs will be performed by the St. Louis Shape Note Singers. Suggested donation is $10, which includes regular admission. See the Bolduc House Museum website for additional information.
- Friday, Feb. 3 – St. Louis: “Earthquakes: Mean Business” seminar hosted by St. Louis University. Scientists, disaster preparedness and emergency management experts will take part in the seminar focused on disaster preparedness and business continuity planning. This program is for decision-makers in business and industry, elected government leaders, and others whose interests include earthquake risks, risk management, business continuity, and contingency planning. Information presented is appropriate for anyone interested in earthquakes, earthquake risk and mitigation, emergency management, business continuity, or citizen preparedness. The program will consist of morning presentations, a luncheon seminar and afternoon break-out sessions. Attendees must register in advance. Students and SLU faculty may attend at no cost. General attendee registration is $95. St. Louis University, Busch Student Center, 20 N. Grand Blvd., 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 4 – St. Louis: Earthquake Awareness Day at St. Louis Science Center will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Explore the science behind earthquakes with local professional groups and businesses through hands-on activities that teach how to prepare homes, families and businesses for an earthquake. Everyone is welcome, and there is no charge.
- Tuesday, Feb. 7 – The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut: Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at 10:15 a.m. CST, more than one million people across nine states will participate in this important earthquake exercise. During the ShakeOut, people across the central U.S. will "Drop, Cover and Hold On" for 60 seconds. Learn more and register today!
- Saturday, Feb. 18 – Leasburg: Edie Starbuck, a geologist from the department's Division of Geology and Land Survey, will present a program on earthquake basics, history, earthquake preparedness, and the effects earthquakes have had, and will have, on the land and human population. This program will include an introduction to the State Emergency Management Agency programs related to earthquakes. After the program, the video about earthquakes in the Midwest will be shown. There will be time for questions and answers. Onondaga Cave State Park, Leasburg, 10:30 a.m. The park is located seven miles southeast of the Leasburg exit off of U.S. Interstate 44 on State Highway H. The event is free and open to the public.
- Saturday, Feb. 18 – Columbia: “It’s Your Fault,” a conference commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Great New Madrid Earthquakes, will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m. in Chambers Auditorium at the student center of the University of Missouri-Columbia. The conference speakers will explore what Missouri was like in 1811, what occurred during the earthquakes, what makes New Madrid earthquakes unique, various theories about whether earthquakes of that magnitude will happen again, and, if they do, whether Missouri is ready. A reader's theatre of actual eyewitness accounts from those living in or traveling through the New Madrid area around the time of the 1811-1812 quakes will also be presented. Everyone is welcome, and there is no charge.
- Monday, Feb. 20 – Piedmont: Get Your Home Ready for Earthquakes seminar will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the AARP building on Rt. 34. Experts from the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency invite the public to this free seminar on the basic principles of earthquake preparedness, and ways you can reduce your risk from earthquakes.
- Saturday, Feb. 25 – Malden: Earthquake Preparedness public program will be presented from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bootheel Youth Museum, 700A N. Douglas St. This awareness event aims to teach citizens about earthquake risks and how to prepare for them. The event will feature displays and information about earthquake history, safety and preparedness. All are welcome, and there i’s no charge.
Organizations from across the United States will participate in events this year to mark the bicentennial of the historic earthquakes. Events range from conferences, workshops, public outreach events, multi-state earthquake exercises, field trips and more. Check back as events will be added.
Watch award winning preparedness videos created by Missouri school children.
Earthquake Facts
- Facts About New Madrid Seismic Zone
- History of Earthquakes in Missouri
- Understanding Earthquakes
- Measuring Earthquakes
- Relationship of Increasing Magnitudes
- Relationship Between Richter Magnitude and Modified Mercalli Intensity
- Recent Earthquakes in Central US
- What to do before, during and after an earthquake
- Earthquake Hazard in the New Madrid Seismic Zone Remains a Concern
- Eyewitness Accounts of the 1811-12 New Madrid Earthquakes
- Did you feel it?
- Missouri Seismic Safety Commission
- Additional Links
New Madrid Seismic Zone National Level Exercise held May 16-20, 2011
During the bicentennial of the great New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812, Missourians took part in a five-day training exercise focused on a coordinated local, state and federal response to a 7.7 magnitude New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) earthquake. The exercise, known as the National Level Exercise 2011 (NLE 2011) was intended to prepare and coordinate a multiple-jurisdictional integrated response to a national catastrophic event – specifically a major earthquake in the central United States region NMSZ. Activities took place at state geological surveys along with command posts, emergency operation centers and other locations that included federal facilities in the Washington D.C. area and federal, regional, state, tribal, local and private sector facilities in the eight member states of the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC).