4.0 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Missouri

Kansas City Star ^ | August 16, 2003 | Associated Press

[LurkedLongEnough]

WEST PLAINS, Mo. - An earthquake with an estimated 4.0 magnitude shook parts of southeast Missouri early Saturday, but no damage was reported.

The earthquake hit at 12:09 a.m. and was centered about 10 miles northeast of West Plains at a depth of about 3.1 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

"It shook some houses, but no damage was done," said Howell County deputy dispatcher Paul O'Brien.

The quake was in the New Madrid Fault zone, which runs across parts of Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois and Arkansas. The zone experiences more than 200 small earthquakes annually.

[Frapster]

I was born in West Plains. In all of my 35 years this is the first time I've read an article mentioning that town. My thanks to the New Madris Fault line... I think. ;-)

[Bahbah]

Where is West Plains in relation to St. Louis?

[facedown]

Uh oh.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Idi Amin died. Satan was making room for Da Da.

[TomGuy]

It is south, southwest of St. Louis.
Click link below:

Map of West Plains, MO

[Robert A Cook PE]

I didn't see New Madrid on that map of West Plains .... It's a little upriver, isn't it?

[balrog666]

[Prof Engineer]

Only 4.0 *yawn*

[Dog Gone]

At 4.0, it's more of a rattle than a shake.

[null and void]

Idi Amin died. Satan was making room for Da Da.

Makes sense...

[sarcasm]

New Madrid Earthquake - 1812

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Damn. Double damn.

We're overdue. Wonder if its a foreshock?

[Frapster]

West Plains is in the south central part of the state just off of highway 60 (runs east west). It's about 2.5 to 3 hours from St. Louis if I remember correctly.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Uh oh is right! If the New Madrid Fault ever gets REALLY busy, look out! Everyone laughs at California, but the big advantage we have here is buildings constructed to earthquake standards. Structures in the midwest will tumble like a house of cards if a repeat of 1812 hits again.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We're on solid rock in Missouri. A quake produces most of its damage in softer soils like the west coast.

[Lucy Lake]

Ping.

[blam]

Ping me when the Mississippi starts flowing north again. LOL

[joesnuffy]

Back in 1811-12 a massive quake 9.0 or so hit and reversed the Mississippi River
and created a lake in KY
The population is a 'whole bunch' more dense now than it was then...and buildings are not build to withstand quakes like they are on the west coast..
Imagine a great big hole in the middle of the USA
It would be a disaster of Biblical Proportions
Dont know how many Nuke Plants would melt down

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I don't think there are a lot of nukes out here, but it plays hell along the Ohio, Missouri and Missippi valleys. Bridges go, the soil liquifies and a lot of structures break up.