John Poynter forwards this:

New Madrid Fault May Unleash Catastrophic Midwest Earthquake, North Pole Rapidly Shifting -- 9 Mar 2022 --

Ken Seger adds:

I haven't listened to this yet, but here is something I typed up in March of 1990.
- - -
In 1985 Dr. Otto Nuttli, professor of geophysics at St.
Louis University, estimated that the New Madrid quakes in the 5
month period of 1811-1812, ranged as high as 8.0 to 8.8 Richter
and that 15 to 18 of the aftershocks ranged from 6.5 to 7.0
Richter. Others estimate that 5 of the two dozen or so quakes
were 8.0 or higher. In 1985, the amount of energy stored in the
fault was enough to produce an earthquake of 7.6 Richter
according to Dr. Nuttli. The last large quake was in 1895 and
estimated at 6.0 Richter. It is estimated that a quake of this
size should occur about every 80 years. Due to the difference
in structure, a quake in the midwest will have a damage area 20
times larger than the same quake would have in California.
It is virtually impossible to predict at what Richter scale
a major quake would occur. Even if it were, it would be equally
difficult to predict the precise damage level that would occur
in the Rossman School area.

If the New Madrid has a 6.7 Richter scale quake, the
greater St. Louis area can expect the following effects: people
have trouble standing upright, loose bricks fall from buildings,
heavy furniture overturns, many windows break and some buildings
are damaged.
For a 7.6 Richter scale quake: drivers have difficulty
steering, towers and chimneys fall, tree branches break and
some buildings partially collapse.
It is estimated that a 7.4 Richter scale quake will do
approximately six billion dollars in damage in just the state
of Missouri.
For a 8.6 Richter scale quake: the ground is cracked
conspicuously, considerable damage in masonry structures
especially designed to withstand earthquakes, some buildings
collapse and underground pipes sometimes broken.
Estimations of damage to the West County area published by
authorities indicate that on a 8.6 Richter scale earthquake
damage levels of 7, 8 or 9 may occur.
Level 7 is described as: "Damage negligible in buildings of
good design and construction. Numerous windows and some
furniture are broken. Considerable damage occurs to concrete
irrigation ditches."
Level 8 equals: "Trees shaken strongly with branches and
trunks broken off. Slight damage occurs in brick structures
built especially to withstand earthquakes. Buildings partially
collapse. Stone walls are cracked or broken seriously."
Level 9 equals: "Ground is cracked conspicuously.
Considerable damage occurs in masonry structures built
especially to withstand earthquakes. Some buildings collapse.
Underground pipes sometimes broken."
Please note that those damage levels will NOT be uniform
throughout the St. Louis area. Some areas will be devastated
while others nearby will suffer only minor damage.
However, even if there is only a 0.1% chance of an
earthquake happening, if it happens, it happens. One can not
control the likelihood of an earthquake occurring, but one can
control the amount of preparedness for an earthquake or other
disaster.
- - -
Most people are not familiar with the Mercalli Scale. Example in St. Louis County for a given Richter Scale, there will be three different Mercalli Scale damage levels, with the worst (highest) in the flood plain where the vibrations will liquify and amplify the waves, and two units up on the Mercalli Scale would be at the highest points in the county where if you go one foot or two down you hit bedrock, which won't move as much. Also the Mercalli scale follows the fault line and perpendicular to the fault line the mercalli Scale of damage falls of rapidly. So Columbia, MO and KC, MO don't have anything to worry about. However, St. Louis, Hanibal, the boot heel, and Memphis, TN have a lot to worry about if the New Madris does its thing.

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at 11:54 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 663 words, total size 5 kb.