Study: Large Earthquake Could Strike New York City

livescience.com ^ | August 21, 2008 | Robert Roy Britt

[Free ThinkerNY]

The New York City area is at "substantially greater" risk of earthquakes than previously thought, scientists said Thursday.

Damage could range from minor to major, with a rare but potentially powerful event killing people and costing billions of dollars in damage.

A pattern of subtle but active faults is known to exist in the region, and now new faults have been found. The scientists say that among other things, the Indian Point nuclear power plants, 24 miles north of the city, sit astride the previously unidentified intersection of two active seismic zones.

The findings are detailed in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America.

[Repeal The 17th]

“Large Earthquake Could Strike New York City”
- - -
But then again . . .

[tet68]

Scientists find fault with NYC.
More to follow.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Uh, plan ahead mean anything?

[Man50D]

I’m moving to California.

[SamAdams76]

Well this might sound a bit cynical but I'm thinking that if an "earthquake" hit Manhattan, not many people would notice.

This is because Manhattan is a busy, bustling place with people constantly in motion, moving here and there with great rapidity.

I'm thinking an earthquake would barely register with these very busy people. Even if a very large earthquake occurred, people would still be lining up to buy newspapers and a "New York slice" of pizza for lunch.

[FlyVet]

I wouldn't doubt it. Northern Maine had a fairly strong earthquake in the early 80's. It cracked the support wall at the Loring AFB hospital.

There was a small earthquake while I was stationed there in the late 80's. What a weird feeling that was, to feel your apartment sliding back and forth underneath you, and the dishes rattling. I wouldn't want to be in the Big One, in a densely populated city with lots of tall buildings.

[edcoil]

dup from 20 minutes ago

[LukeL]

If there is an earthquake there is a big chance of a tidal wave or "storm surge" like event hitting NYC, and those subways IIRC are below sea level so the waters will stay there until you can pump it out and that would be a ton of water to move.

I would hate to see what would happen if lower Manhattan was shit at rush hour.

[ari-freedom]

Been there, done that.

[Repeal The 17th]

“I would hate to see what would happen
if lower Manhattan was shit at rush hour.”
- - -
I heard it was like that all the time.

[luvie]

The sky is falling....the sky is falling.....

*sigh*

[avalonmistmoon]

I already saw the movie. Wasn’t there one made with Jennifer Garner where she running around the ruins of NYC looking for father. It was entertaining.

[Postman]

Oh, drat!!!Just when we might be getting our minds around the construction of a few new nuclear power plants.

[buccaneer81]

I wouldn't doubt it. Northern Maine had a fairly strong earthquake in the early 80's. It cracked the support wall at the Loring AFB hospital.

I was a college student across the border in New Brunswick that day. It was a Saturday morning in January, 1982. Epicenter was near Plaster Rock, NB (about 25-30 miles east of Loring.) 5.8 on the Richter Scale.

Scared the crap out of me.

[eyedigress]

Global Warming?

[Mr_Moonlight]

Yeah yeah yeah yeah ... and a big comet could hit the Earth at any time and wipe out 99% of all life as well as drastically changing the geology and weather conditions on the planet ....

It's a dangerous Universe out there, so go drive yer SUV, enjoy, and fergittabottit!

[buccaneer81]

Here's a map of that quake:

[Snickering Hound]

[FlyVet]

And 5.7 is just a little one. Imagine an 8 in NYC or San Francisco. I took a bus tour through the San Fran business district years ago. All those tall buildings, it felt like we were driving through a canyon.

All I could think was, I do NOT want to be here when the Big One hits.

Our tour guide told us that the population increases by one million people during a business day. If it hits then, there's gonna be a lot of suffering and dying.