Our region is ill-prepared for 'the big one'

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | Nov. 19, 2005 | Joe Mahr and Phillip O'Connor

[sgtbono2002]

The Titanic wasnt ready for the iceberg either. Crap Happens. When its every man for hiomself --prepare yourself, Dont wait for the gubment they head out to help who screams the loudest while you have to take care of yourself.

[Graybeard58]

How do you pronounce, "Piggot," and keep a straight face?

Just like it sounds. However New Madrid, Missouri is frequently mispronounced. It's not the same as Madrid, Spain.

[EGPWS]

Gary Howell peered around his quaint town and nonchalantly described how it would be decimated when a major earthquake erupted from the nearby New Madrid Fault.

With his palm extended to Washington awaiting a "lube" job.

[steve86]

one way to prepare would be to replace or reinforce all those brick buildings, before a quake steps in and does that for us.

Yeah, that's sort of what people had in mind. Donations?

[EGPWS]

...and if they're smart, they'll immediately remove any picture frames that are hanging over the head of the bed.

Or do what I do when I get paranoid and place their head at the foot of the bed. ; )

[lepton]

Over time, one way to prepare would be to replace or reinforce all those brick buildings, before a quake steps in and does that for us.

Do you have any concept of what a Mag. 10.0 earthquake is? Keep in mind as well, that this rung the whole plate, not like the relatively itty-bitty quake that spawned the Tsunami last year (and detectibly altered the earth's shape and rotation). The last time the New Madrid fault wnet, it threw the Mississippi several miles...then an aftershock threw it again. The earthquake was felt a thousand miles away.

[seacapn]

I'd worry more about a 6.5-7 quake, which would have enough punch to take down unreinforced buildings, but not enough to take down ones built to modern earthquake codes.

The city of St. Louis in particular is full of brick buildings; it would take a hard hit from anything above a 5.8.

[EGPWS]

There are a lot of pork-mongers out there, but I'd advise anyone in the midwest's quake zone to stock up on the essentials - and don't expect the government to come looking for you for quite some time.

There are a lot of pork-mongers out there,...

Well I'm with you on the first part.

[EGPWS]

And a 9.0 would make Katrina look like a kindergarten brat.

Obviously a statement coming from one lacking experience with a kindergarten brat.....

[Ed_in_NJ]

LOL!

[calex59]

Not near as hard to say as Toad Suck which is just down the road from Little Rock!

[o_zarkman44]

The best preparedness is personal preparation and personal responsibility for such.

Having supplys on hand and some basic emergency items in stock is a great start. Also a good stock of firearms and ammo for personal protection and property defense is advisable.

After witnessing the faulty and failed government response to Katrina we have to come to grip with the fact that government cannot protect us from everything, nor can they rescue us if we fail to prepare. FEMA is not the solution. Emergency agencys will be overwhelmed. Communication disrupted. Travel impossible.

A lack of preparation and general disorganization will only compound the problems. Having the ability to survive on our own for a week or two will ease the burden on emergency workers so they can concentrate on injurys and infrastructure. Help will eventually come if needed. But it is better if they come looking for you than if one goes wandering out looking for help.