The 7.0 earthquake the last few days was the second major earthquake in two weeks to strike the Pacific Tectonic plate. The first was a 7.8 magnitude quake which struck Ecuador, South America. Let me be very clear on one thing…there is no sure way to predict an earthquake anywhere.
But a theory exists that says large earthquakes such as the ones recently around the Pacific Rim can have actual effects here in the United States and those effects could lead to major problems. If you think about it, the most recent large quake shook the planet, and two weeks ago, an even bigger earthquake, (7.8) off the coast of Ecuador shook the planet as well.
So forceful and violent were these large quakes, that their shockwaves actually registered on every seismograph in the United States. You can go look at the USGS ANSS's eighty eight seismographs on their website and see for yourself. Theory states that when you realize that these distant earthquakes h
ave literally shaken the faults here in the U.S., then you have to wonder how much more shaking our faults can take before one of them lets go in a big way? When our planet suffers such a forceful event, it seems to have repercussions elsewhere. The earthquakes took place on the Pacific Tetonic Plate, which is responsible for the infamous "ring of fire". This is an area that rings the Pacific Ocean consisting of earthquake regions and active volanoes. There are around 40 active volcanoes around the globe that are erupting right now.
All except for six of them are along the ring of fire. The point is that there has been a significant increase in the number of earthquakes worldwide in recent years. Recent earthquake swarms also raise concern, such as the prolonged one ongoing in the New Madrid Fault. This raises another question…Could the earthquake that just struck the New Madrid fault seismic zone near the town of La Center, Kentucky be a “foreshock” for a much bigger quake yet to come possibly due to the shaking from the large quakes on the Pacific Tetonic Plate?
Very early on Sunday morning, a magnitude 3.5 earthquake hit western Kentucky, and it was felt in parts of three other states as well. In fact, it is being reported that the quake could be felt all the way over in Miller, Missouri, which is 267 miles away. The New Madrid fault seismic zone is six times larger than the more famous San Andreas fault zone in California, a
nd it covers portions of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. Scientists tell us that the New Madrid fault is about 30 years overdue for a major event, and because of the nature of the Earth’s crust in that part of the country, a major earthquake would do significant damage all the way to the east coast. Quite often, there are “foreshocks” that warn us that a major earthquake is coming to a particular area, and many are wondering if this event qualifies. It is also possible it is relieving the pressure. Let me close with this…there is no way to know when another major earthquake will occur on the New Madrid Fault. It could be fifty years from now, or it could be tomorrow.
So don't agonize over this for something that may not happen in your lifetime. The State and Local governments do have plans in place to deal with such an event when it happens. But everyone should have plans and preparations in place to deal with not only an earthquake, but any disaster that may occur. One thing is certain, planning and preparing will lessen the impact of any disaster on you and your family. Feel free to leave comments and be sure to hit the "Like" button at the end of this post.
