[Strategerist]

To be pedantic despite what the FEMA official says, there is no "New Madrid Fault"; there is however a New Madrid Fault ZONE; of which the two main suspected faults are the Reefoot Thrust and Cottonwood Grove Faults (which are deeply buried under thousands of feet of muck.)

Also, there's some fairly strong evidence that one of the main 1811-1812 earthquakes was actually in the Wabash Valley of Southern Illinois and Indiana, not near New Madrid.

Good to see FEMA thinking about it, I guess.

However I'm deeply concerned about the possibility of lack of earthquake awareness in the Intermountain West, particularly Salt Lake City, Reno-Carson City Nevada, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. A lot of people have recently moved to those areas and I even get the impression that long-time residents are unaware of the serious risk of strong earthquakes they face there.

[Cornpone]

If I remember the history of what happened last time that fault had a major shift, it dramatically changed the course of the Mississippi river and devastated hundreds of thousands of square miles. What does FEMA think they can do?

[digger48]

Even a magnitude 7 earthquake would destroy more than 60 percent of buildings in St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn., because most buildings predate building requirements aimed at resisting the shock, officials estimate.

"women and minorities hit hardest."

" they were so poor and so black"(Wolf Blitzer)

[76834]

Another is the Yellowstone Caldera.

When/If that one blows it will wipe out everything including FEMA.

http://www.armageddononline.org/volcano.php

Lots of other cheerful stuff on that site.

[Cornpone]

Again, if I remember correctly the impact of the last major New Madrid fault incident reached all the way to Virginia causing floods here that costs thousands of lives. I don't think there is anything FEMA can do to prepare for something like that. The event would be like one of the Hollywood comet strike movies I think if its at its worst. This is grand standing if you ask me.

[TADSLOS]

[conservative cat]

After the last big earthquake in the NW (Feb 01), I looked into areas that didn't have a risk of earthquake, because I didn't want to live in an earthquake zone anymore. One was Florida (hurricanes) and I can't remember the second, but it was someplace with tornadoes, I believe.

[Flifuss]

Later Read.

[Andyman]

SLC and environs are pretty aware of the risk. Post-1950-ish homes have to be designed to handle earthquakes. All new office/commercial structures are similarly designed. One thing we have going for us are the Mormons who are more self-reliant and prepared (food, water, etc.) than any group in the country. I certainly confirmed that my home is on somewhat protected ground. There are a lot of places out by the airport though that are built on essentially alluvial fill. YIKES!

[Tijeras_Slim]

I'm east of Albuquerque a bit, and I'm aware. We had a 3.8 a few years ago. Startled me. Everyone else, including the dogs, slept through it.

[PISANO]

I have an idea for the CRADLE TO GRAVERS and the WOMB to the TOMBERS!!

I suggest a major think tank top secret Manhattan like government funded project to develop a "MAGIC WAND".

If successfully developed, whenever there is a catastrophic event either man-made or natural, all we have to do is WAVE IT and everything will be fixed.....no infrastructure damage, no physical suffering no mental anguish, no alternative healing, JUST WAVE it, and with a bit if incantation and all will be well!!!

< /sarcasm >

[headsonpikes]

My mega-disaster of choice is the onset of a renewed Ice Age.

All it would take is one lingering winter with heavy snow in Canada's north, in particular, northern Quebec.

Or so I am given to believe by climatologists.

[freedumb2003]

There was a book I read a few years ago -- "8.0" that described an 8.0 earthquake in the Memphis, Tennessee area that essentially cut the Nation in two.

It was interesting, to say the least.

I live in Southern California and I believe that we are more prepared for an earthquake than any place on Earth. We have proof -- the Northridge quake. 57 deaths is an amazingly low number for an earthquake of that size. I am 3 miles from the epicenter and had power and gas back within 1 day!

And then after that we continue to refine the rules and procedures. THey run earthquake drills here at least twice a year and sometimes more frequently.

We in California may screw a lot of things up, but when it comes to Earthquake Preparedness we are the leader in the world.

Oh, and everyone I know has water and food for at least a week. And flashlights in every room (except for the newbies).

[facedown]

Even a magnitude 7 earthquake would destroy more than 60 percent of buildings in St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn.,...

And a magnitude 235 quake would level the entire earth. Sheesh.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"Good to see FEMA thinking about it, I guess."

My all time favorite thing for FEMA to pretend to be preparing for is the eruption of the Yellowstone super volcano.

It makes something that reroutes the Mississippi seem like a minor little shake.

Michael Frazier

[spikeytx86]

I'm always late to post when thees things happen so let me be the first.

It's bush's fault. George Bush doesn't care about black people, and the death toll stands at a bazillion. Cannibalism has broke out. More at 11.

[Cvengr]

Here's an interesting trend in US quake patterns which hasn't been as obvious in a long time. (a 15May06 map at present, but may change)