Posted on 11/20/2005 11:38:35 AM PST by seacapn
PIGGOT, ARK.
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.
Most of the century-old brick buildings would topple. So would the police station. The emergency operations center for Clay County - housed in the courthouse - would be crushed from chunks of the concrete ceiling.
And this is a place touted as a model for earthquake preparedness.
"We're not ready," said Howell, the county's longtime chief executive officer.
More than two decades after federal and state officials called for massive preparations for a major earthquake in this region, including St. Louis, a Post-Dispatch investigation found that government has failed to marshal many of its own resources to prepare for a disaster that could rival the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
How do you pronounce, "Piggot," and keep a straight face?
It seems the Katrina/Rita disasters has opened the floodgate for fear mongers for all the other disasters that could be lurking out there.
A pork grab.
What you really need is a supply of drinking water (which is most important), canned food (can opener), a shotgun for warning shots and a pistol for when some deranged fool forces the issue. And a radio. And a Bible.
Other then that don't expect the government to show up day one because that is not real life.
BTW, did you know there was a 6.0 in Alaska today -- can't find any reports yet other than USGS/ANSS seismic info.
With difficulty.
Okay. I promise I won't visit.
I don't see how any place can be ready for the worst disasters that Mother Earth can dish out. To believe that you are ready is just asking for it.
Here's a link to the latest quake.
Here's a link that shows how many earthquakes have happened there since 1990, and where.
The New Madrid fault is nothing to trifle with. It will rumble eventually, and when it does, it's better to be prepared than not.
As the t-shirt at the local museum says: "Visit Historic New Madrid - While it is Still There".
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.
He told me every time a Japanese asked his name and the phrase got translated, they would giggle. I may not remember this right but I think he said they called him Buto San.
...and if they're smart, they'll immediately remove any picture frames that are hanging over the head of the bed.
And this is a place touted as a model for earthquake preparedness.
Who would have thunk this?
Will it matter?
What's to prepare within the area? The best preparation is to warehouse supplies outside of the great plains and midwest. If the New Madrid fault goes, pretty much every building in that part of the country is going to fall. You just hope that you are outside, and that you are far enough uphill that the Mississippi doesn't come over you.
Your friend may have had a Texas governor as a relative.
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.
If their Congresscritters know how to get on the floor of the House and Senate and whimper, they're ready. Why would state and local government want to spend their own money now when they can spend federal money later?
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