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Government warns of "catastrophic" U.S. quake (FEMA & the New Madrid Seismic Zone)
Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 11/20/08 | Carey Gillam

Posted on 11/20/2008 7:10:40 PM PST by NormsRevenge

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) – People in a vast seismic zone in the southern and midwestern United States would face catastrophic damage if a major earthquake struck there and should ensure that builders keep that risk in mind, a government report said on Thursday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said if earthquakes strike in what geologists define as the New Madrid Seismic Zone, they would cause "the highest economic losses due to a natural disaster in the United States."

FEMA predicted a large earthquake would cause "widespread and catastrophic physical damage" across Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee -- home to some 44 million people.

Tennessee is likely to be hardest hit, according to the study that sought to gauge the impact of a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in order to guide the government's response.

In Tennessee alone, it forecast hundreds of collapsed bridges, tens of thousands of severely damaged buildings and a half a million households without water.

Transportation systems and hospitals would be wrecked, and police and fire departments impaired, the study said.

The zone, named for the town of New Madrid in Missouri's southeast corner, is subject to frequent mild earthquakes.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Government; US: Missouri; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: catastrophic; fema; government; newmadrid; quake
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To: aruanan

So violent, that the Mississippi ran up stream! I live 11 miles from the river, but my town survived the big one.


61 posted on 11/20/2008 8:12:41 PM PST by Coldwater Creek ("There is no insanity greater than electing a pathological Narcissist as president.")
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To: NormsRevenge

well . . . duh!


62 posted on 11/20/2008 8:16:17 PM PST by stranger and pilgrim
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To: NormsRevenge
And don't forget about the Yellowstone Volcano Inflating With Molten Rock At Record Rate!
63 posted on 11/20/2008 8:20:55 PM PST by smokingfrog (If it's to be a bloodbath, let it be now. Appeasement is not the answer. - Ronald Reagan)
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To: concerned about politics; ladyjane

Better yet, get 100 or so feet of poly or teflon tube in 3/8in ID (HD sells 25 foot sections you can couple together with joiners, you only need the depth of the well) and a 1 way check valve with a tapered thread for inside insertion or the stainless one for screwing on over the outside of the tube.

Lower tube into well and furiously raise and lower it and it will produce as much water as you’re able to sustain the action. We use it all the time to sample groundwater either via temporary casing or through the bore of Direct Push drill rig rods. I’ve produced water from over 75 feet with it...


64 posted on 11/20/2008 8:22:16 PM PST by Axenolith (Government blows and that which governs least blows least...)
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To: NormsRevenge

Nooooo cried the AlGorical. Know ye that they shall perish of the heat of Hell and the fire of thirst before the earth shall be ripped asunder. So say I, so say I. Then he vanished, verily in a storm cloud of shi-ite.


65 posted on 11/20/2008 8:24:14 PM PST by Rembrandt
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To: randomhero97
I'd like to know of the rumor! It could happen to the younger military retirees.

Buddy B - Retired-USAF - Year: 1972, that's 36 years ago.....

66 posted on 11/20/2008 8:24:34 PM PST by Buddy B (MSgt Retired-USAF - Year: 1972)
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To: CaribouCrossing

Ping to my #64.


67 posted on 11/20/2008 8:30:27 PM PST by Axenolith (Government blows and that which governs least blows least...)
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To: randomhero97
The big one has been predicted on the New Madrid fault for a long time. I don’t doubt it’s coming, though.

Don't be so sure.

If it does, try to get access to a boat.

Once the ground starts shaking severely, liquefaction starts to occur and the ground turns into an oatmeal consistency...

First you'll notice buildings and homes start to "bob" around, as the shaking continues, the buildings start to sink into the goo...Some will just get swallowed up...Others will actually be "burped" back up to the surface when struck with vertical aftershocks...

68 posted on 11/20/2008 8:30:47 PM PST by dragnet2
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To: NormsRevenge

Isn’t there a massive fault line through Atlanta too?


69 posted on 11/20/2008 8:32:49 PM PST by autumnraine (Churchill: " we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall never surrender")
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To: Axenolith
Good water idea. Personally, we have a hand pump attached to our well. We live in a North Eastern storm zone, and it's helps a lot when the electric goes out. Last year, we had an ice storm that lasted 9 days. Luckily, we've been working on Off-the-Grid stuff for about 12 years now, so we were all set. Others had to go to the schools for heat, water, and food.
70 posted on 11/20/2008 8:32:53 PM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
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To: Buddy B
This is just another attempt to justify the existence of an un-needed government agancy,which not incidentally has unusual powers to ignore Constitutional restrictions in case of emergencies.

Like perhaps confiscating homeowners guns to "prevent violence" after a disaster.

Ideally, everyone would have at least several days worth of drinking water,ready -to-eat food,medicines,toilet needs, cash,self-defense weapons,batteries,car fuel tank always at least half-filled,safety can of gas stored away from living area,etc.

Americans are unduly dependent on the government and monopoly suppliers for daily life.

71 posted on 11/20/2008 8:34:51 PM PST by hoosierham (Waddaya mean Freedom isn't free ?;will you take a creditcard?)
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To: edcoil

Well, I’d hope that at least their building coes don’t allow brick construction - the collapse of those bick buildings during Loma Prieta and Northridge were very dangerous.

— me, up in the SF area.


72 posted on 11/20/2008 8:38:57 PM PST by bootless (Never Forget. Never Again. And NEVER GIVE UP!)
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To: bootless
Well, I’d hope that at least their building coes don’t allow brick construction - the collapse of those bick buildings during Loma Prieta and Northridge were very dangerous.

Um, the midwest, being full of clay, was a major manufacturing center of brick for a very long time. There are whole neighborhoods here built on the fill in the clay pits. There's more brick than any other building material in my hometown. We're in for it and we know it since the New Madrid fault really shook (1811 or 1812) the course of the Mississippi changed, it ran backwards for an hour and rang church bells in Virginia. Even the Arch was built with earthquakes in mind. We just don't let it bother us and keep the buildings short.

73 posted on 11/20/2008 8:47:09 PM PST by Desdemona (Tolerance of grave evil is NOT a Christian virtue (I choose virtue. Values change too often).)
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To: hoosierham
Americans are unduly dependent on the government and monopoly suppliers for daily life.

Yep. The government depends on people being afraid to leave their "nurturing".

If (when) the oboma team fails to aid people immediately after another national disaster, the democrats won't be looking so pretty any more - especially after the way they spun Katrina.

74 posted on 11/20/2008 8:48:19 PM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
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To: NormsRevenge

Anybody catch the 5.0 near Calexico this afternoon about 5pm?


75 posted on 11/20/2008 8:49:29 PM PST by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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To: CindyDawg
If a quake should occur in a low risk area, would regular insurance cover?

My guess is that earthquake damage is a Named Exclusion on your homeowners policy. (not covered). It will be in the small print of your policy.

Some 20 years ago I bought earthquake insurance on some houses and small buildings. As I recall the rate for earthquake insurance was very low (in this area, Southwestern Missouri) for framed houses (wood construction), higher for brick and block construction.

To be sure ask your local insurance agent about your policy.

76 posted on 11/20/2008 8:55:48 PM PST by TYVets
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To: Cvengr
Calexico

Where is Calexico?

77 posted on 11/20/2008 8:56:03 PM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
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To: NormsRevenge

Old story here in Memphis. The University of Memphis has an earthquake center, and the local Emergency Management Agencies all conduct regular drills and training.


78 posted on 11/20/2008 9:13:56 PM PST by MainFrame65 (The US Senate: World's greatest PREVARICATIVE body!.)
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To: TYVets

I’m in St. Louis - we have the earthquake insurance on our policy. It has a higher deductable - I think it is 2%.

I think it is impossible to get earthquake insurance on brick structures.


79 posted on 11/20/2008 9:21:20 PM PST by birddog (Hab 3:18)
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To: smokingfrog
And don't forget about the Yellowstone Volcano Inflating With Molten Rock At Record Rate!

Except it isn't.

80 posted on 11/20/2008 9:33:34 PM PST by Strategerist
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