The Dear Dr.MOZ Baby Blog

(Part 1 of 3: Locating Earthquake Danger Zones in the US)

Let’s face it, most of us aren’t adequately prepared for natural disasters and unless you live on the west coast…you probably haven’t thought twice about earthquakes. Your family will need a lot more than a few cans of soup and fresh batteries in the flashlight if “the big one” strikes within a few hundred miles of your home, so Dr.MOZ has put together a three part earthquake boot camp to help get you up-to-speed with earthquake preparedness.

History shows us that major earthquakes have occurred throughout the US and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports that 22,476 earthquakes have been detected from coast to coast over the last seven years. Those living in Mid-America and the east coast may be most at risk considering the majority of earthquake-related deaths (and major injuries) are attributed to being crushed by objects not properly secured in homes, or collapsed structures not built to withstand major earthquakes. We may not be able to accurately predict earthquakes, but the USGS has determined that the locations most likely to suffer a large earthquake in the next 30 years are:

The New Madrid Zone:
Believe it or not, this 120 mile stretch following the Mississippi River created the largest earthquake ever recorded in the continental US. This was an estimated 8.1 (on the Richter scale) which is equivalent to the energy released with an explosion of 1 Billion tons of TNT. For comparison, the energy released in a small atomic bomb would be much smaller in size and be equivalent to a 4.0 on the Richter scale. Memphis and St. Louis are right on the zone, and large portions of Kentucky, Ohio,

Indiana, and Southern Illinois are likely to be effected by a New Madrid Zone earthquake as well. Follow the link to see the latest earthquakes in the New Madrid Zone, and then select a box to learn more about a specific earthquake.

Northeast:
The Northeast States Emergency Consortium reports that New England has approximately 30-40 earthquakes a year. Although most are small, the bedrock geology of New England affects a much larger area during an earthquake compared to the west coast. New England’s un-reinforced masonry buildings and high population density make for a lethal combination. Follow the link to see the latest earthquakes in the New England area, and then select a box to learn more about a specific earthquake.

San Francisco Bay Area:
It certainly is no surprise to see the bay area on the list, but did you know that scientists estimate that there is a 62% chance that a major earthquake will occur in the next 30 years? Follow the link to see the latest earthquakes in the N. CA area, and then select a box to learn more about a specific earthquake.

Southern California:
Do you plan on moving south from Northern California to the LA area to avoid earthquakes? Nice try…there is an estimated 60% chance for a major quake in Southern California. Follow the link to see the latest earthquakes in S. CA area, and then select a box to learn more about a specific earthquake.

Alaska and Hawai’i:
Both states have always been at high risk due to their geography and the danger continues to grow as city populations increase along the states’ coastal areas. Hawai’i experiences thousands of earthquakes each year linked with volcanisim, and southern Alaska has the disadvantage of jetting out between the Pacific Plate and the North American plate creating over 5,000 earthquakes each year. The ground is constantly shaking in this portion of the US, and most large cities in these states are located directly on the coastline which creates a huge tsunami risk. Follow the links below to see the latest earthquakes in Hawai’i or Alaska, and then select a box to learn more about a specific earthquake.

In short, you don’t need to be in San Francisco to experience a potentially dangerous earthquake. They can happen anytime and anywhere without warning, so be sure to visit throughout the week as we post parts 2 and 3 in our earthquake preparedness series.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ