Geological Survey Program
2013 Earthquake Awareness Events
Great Central U.S. ShakeOut! | Earthquake Science | SEMA Preparedness | FEMA Preparedness | FEMA Mitigation
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
Organizations from across the United States participated in events this year learn about earthquake hazard and how to protect oneself in advance of an earthquake. Events ranged from conferences, workshops, public outreach events, multi-state earthquake exercises, field trips and more.
| Sat. | Jan. 5 |
Anniversary of the 1843 earthquake (magnitude 6.3) near Marked Tree, Arkansas which was felt over much of eastern half of Missouri. Some land reportedly sank near New Madrid and chimneys fell as far away as St. Louis. |
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| Fri. | Jan. 18 | Missouri Seismic Safety Commission Earthquake Poster Contest Deadline. All "Show-Me ShakeOut" poster contest entries are due, please ensure that they have been submitted to SEMA. Read more. |
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| Wed. | Jan. 23 | 201st Anniversary of Magnitude 7.5 1812 New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquake. | ||
| Wed. | Jan. 30 | "Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage" webinar hosted by FEMA. Read more. No registration required; however, please test your connection to be sure you have Adobe Connect Pro (free) installed on your computer and please Test Meeting Connection prior to joining the webinar. Webinar Link: Adobe Connect Pro Meeting Login
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1-2:30 p.m. | |
| Thurs. | Jan. 31 | "Earthquake Safety for Schools" webinar hosted by FEMA. Read more. No registration required; however, please test your connection to be sure you have Adobe Connect Pro (free) installed on your computer and please Test Meeting Connection prior to joining the webinar. Webinar Link: Adobe Connect Pro Meeting Login
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1-2:30 p.m. | |
| Jan. 31 | St. Louis | Missouri Seismic Safety Commission meets. | 10 a.m. @ ABNA Engineering | |
| Fri, | Feb. 1 | St. Louis | 20th Annual “Earthquakes: Mean Business” seminar hosted by St. Louis University's Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology. 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 $105. St. Louis University, Busch Student Center, 20 N. Grand Blvd., 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Registration deadline is January 14, 2013. |
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. @ St. Louis University |
| Mon. | Feb. 4 | Winners of Missouri Seismic Safety Commission's Show-Me ShakeOut Poster Contest will be notified. | ||
| Tues. | Feb. 5 | St. Louis | SAME Scott Field / St. Louis Posts / TISP Regional Resiliency Workshop. | 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. @ Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark |
| Thurs. | Feb. 7 | 201st Anniversary of Magnitude 7.7 1812 New Madrid SZ earthquake | ||
| Feb. 7 | Statewide | Great Central U.S. ShakeOut. Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at 10:15 a.m. CST, join Missourians and citizens across nine states to participate in this important earthquake exercise. During the ShakeOut, people across the central U.S. will "Drop, Cover and Hold On" for 60 seconds. Last year more than 12.5 million people were registered in ShakeOut drills worldwide. Participating is a great way for your family or organization to be prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes. Learn more and register today! | 10:15 a.m. | |
| Fri. | Feb. 8 | Jefferson City | MO SAVE Coalition Board meets. | 10 a.m. @ SEMA |
| Sat. | Feb. 9 | Leasburg | “The Earth Moves Under Our Feet” – Edie Starbuck, a geologist from the Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geology and Land Survey, will present a program short about 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. Admission is free. Onondaga Cave State Park is located seven miles southeast of the Leasburg exit off of Interstate 44 on Highway H. For more information about the event, contact the park at 573-245-6576. |
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. @ Onondaga Cave State Park, Leasburg |
| Sat. | Feb. 9 | St. Louis | Earthquake Awareness Day at St. Louis Science Center will take place from 9 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. |
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. @ St. Louis Science Center |
| Sat. | Feb. 16 | Cape Girardeau | Earthquake Awareness Month event at West Park Mall will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn about the science of earthquakes, preparedness and more from participants including:
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10 a.m. to 2 p.m. @ West Park Mall |
| Feb. 21-28 | Various Sites | Missouri Seismic Safety Commission Poster Contest winners receive awards. | ||
| Wed. | March 6 | Hannibal | Town Hall Meeting – Earthquake Awareness Event for Hannibal and Surrounding Area Sponsored by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), city of Hannibal and Marion County Office of Emergency Management. This event will include presentations from experts about the science behind earthquakes and safety precautions people should take prior to, during and following an earthquake. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions during this program. The following experts have been invited to give presentations:
Information about earthquakes will be available and the possible effects a large earthquake in the Midwest could have on northeast Missouri. Those attending can see earthquake-related displays and take home information. |
6 p.m. @ the Shirley Bomar Community Center |
Check out these educational videos
Join us Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014 for The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut
We hope you joined us by participating in the 2013 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut! Plan to participate Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014 in the next ShakeOut exercise. In the meantime, you and your family can practice how to protect yourselves during earthquakes by DROPPING to the ground, taking COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and HOLDING ON! Practing is a great way for your family or organization to be prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes. Learn more and register today!
Award winning preparedness videos created by Missouri school children
Kindergarten through 12th grade students across Missouri were encouraged to share their knowledge by creating videos that educate others about preparing for an earthquake. The contest was sponsored by the department’s Division of Geology and Land Survey. Winners chosen from three categories: K-4, 5-8 and 9-12 grades.
Seventh grade students Miranda Kaleel and Lauren Whittier from Rockwood School District’s Selvidge Middle School in Ballwin, won the 5-8 grade category and were named grand prize winner for their silent movie video that demonstrates the steps one should take in the event of an earthquake. The video was a class project for gifted students. Theresa Stockman is their teacher. Kaleel and Whittier were invited to the Carnahan High School of the Future, St. Louis, to practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On during the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut on April 28, 2011. Gov. Jay Nixon, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Education Department Secretary Arne Duncan fielded questions Carnahan School for the Future and Selvidge Middle School students posed. Kaleel and Whittier were recognized for their winning video by Secretaries Napolitano and Duncan.
A Survivor's Story, Eliza Bryan –
The Great New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-12
December 9 and 10, 2011 at the Dixie Theater in New Madrid, Missouri, Eliza told her story of surviving this terrible ordeal and life at that time in southeast Missouri. Eliza related her experiences to Dr. Seismo, played by David Stewart, Ph.D., through the help of Marian McDonald, who was reared in southeast Missouri more than 150 years after the great earthquakes. Eliza is one of the most important eyewitnesses to the events.
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).
