"A giant earthquake zone in the heart of the US is overdue for a major seismic event that could kill thousands and cripple infrastructure throughout the country. The New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) is a large area in the middle of the US where hundreds of minor earthquakes are recorded each year. It stretches about 150 miles along the Mississippi River Valley, covering parts of northeastern Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, western Tennessee, western Kentucky, and southern Illinois."
"This zone is one of the most active earthquake spots east of the Rocky Mountains, even though it's relatively unknown compared to earthquake hotspots such as Southern California and the Bay Area. Despite its lack of fame, both local and federal officials in the US have been planning for a potential disaster in the NMSZ for decades, including creating detailed estimates of the damage and death toll from an earthquake stronger than 6.0 in magnitude."
The New Madrid Seismic Zone spans roughly 150 miles along the Mississippi River Valley, affecting parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois. Hundreds of minor earthquakes occur there annually, making it one of the most active seismic regions east of the Rockies. Large earthquakes occurred in December 1811–February 1812 with three quakes over magnitude 7.0. Recurrence estimates range from 200 to 800 years, and 214 years have passed since the last major sequence. The USGS assigns a 25–40% chance of a magnitude 6.0 quake in the next 50 years. A magnitude 7.6 could cause over $43 billion in damage and potentially tens of thousands of deaths. State and federal agencies continue planning and assessing risk.
Read at Mail Online
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