Protect Yourself During an Earthquake...Drop, Cover and Hold On!

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Test Your Disaster Knowledge

IT’S COMING…Would you know what to do… if it happened to you?

                     

TEST YOUR DISASTER KNOWLEDGE

1.     You are inside a building and begin to feel the shaking of an earthquake.  You should:

a.    Run outside

b.    Stand by a window

c.    Drop, Cover, and hold on

          2.  You are returning home from a company picnic and you see a funnel shape of a tornado in your rear view mirror.  You should:

a.  Get out of your car and get to a low lying area or ditch

b.  Get under an overpass

c.  Try to out run it

3.  You are enjoying a nice campfire next to a stream, in the Ozarks. You notice that the animals are running and the birds are taking flight, but nothing seems strange.  No unusual odors are present.  You can see the stars but the ground begins to rumble slightly but continuously.  You should:

a.  Put out the fire and go to bed

b.  Pack up and leave the area immediately

c.  Try to find someone who knows what is going on

          4.  You are at your child’s baseball game and you notice a storm forming in the distance, and lightning flashes can be seen in the clouds.  You should:             

a.  Continue to enjoy the game; the storm is far away
          b.  Get under the metal bleachers
          c.  Get to shelter if possible or crouch on the balls of your feet, hands on knees

5.  You are driving on I-55, and hear on the radio that a hazardous material spill has occurred approximately five (5) miles ahead.  You should:

a.  Turn around and drive in a direction that is a right angle to the spill

b.  Continue driving and wait for further information

c.  Turn around immediately and drive in the opposite direction

6.  You smell smoke from another room.  You should:

a.     Get the hose

b.     Open the door to see what is going on

c.     Get out of the house and call 911

                                                                    Answers: 1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-C, 5-A, 6-C

Earthquake Preparedness: Not Just for Left Coasters - USGS

Earthquake Preparedness: Not Just for Left Coasters

It was a warm winter night 200 years ago when the ground and buildings started shaking from a strong earthquake in the upper Mississippi River valley near New Madrid, Mo. The first in a series of quakes struck on Dec. 16 around 2:15 a.m., and the few thousand pioneer settlers in the region did not understand what was happening, much less what to do about it. People panicked and ran outside during several long minutes of strong shaking. Unfortunately, this frightened response would likely be repeated in the central U.S. today, as it was when a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck central Virginia earthquake on Aug. 23, and again when a magnitude 5.6 quake struck east-central Oklahoma on Nov. 6.
The havoc 200 years ago was caused by a powerful earthquake near the southern portion of the Missouri Bootheel, then the edge of the western frontier. Little did the settlers also know that this would be the start of a remarkable series of powerful earthquakes, each 500 to 1000 times stronger than the recent Virginia and Oklahoma events, and each with their own aftershock sequence. Some of the aftershocks were large enough to cause additional damage. At least seven of the earthquakes were felt on the east coast of the United States. One of these East Coast residents was President James Madison in Washington D.C., who probably felt at least three of these earthquakes, and remarked in a letter to Thomas Jefferson on Feb. 7, 1812 (the day of the 3rd and final magnitude 7+ earthquake in the sequence):

"The re-iteration of earthquakes continues the uproar from certain quarters. They have slightly reached the state of N. Y. and have been severely felt W. & S. Westwardly. There was one here this morning at 5 or 6 minutes after 4 o'C. It was rather stronger than any preceeding one, & lasted several minutes, with sensible tho very slight repetitions throughout the succeeding hour."

Because there were no seismographs in 1811, considerable evidence about the size of the New Madrid earthquake sequence comes from hundreds of written accounts like this. Many eyewitnesses in the New Madrid region described a sense of almost continual shaking for weeks, and during the largest earthquakes, "geysers of sand and water several feet high erupting on to the ground surface." Boatmen on the Mississippi River reported feeling the shaking in their small barges and noted the collapse of river banks and the disappearance of islands in the river channel. Scientists know these ground-failure effects today as tell-tale signs of liquefaction, and these accounts are corroborated by the evidence of widespread liquefaction (sand blows) still visible on the ground surface today. In effect, the size and distribution of the sand blows act as historic seismographs, helping today's scientists gauge the amount of ground shaking occurring over centuries.
The 1811-1812 New Madrid sand blows are among the largest yet found on Earth, and although it does not mean that these quakes were the largest to occur (far from it), they do tell us much about the strong shaking in the region between Memphis and St. Louis and the potentially devastating consequences of a repeat of similar earthquakes in this region: millions of acres of valuable farmland would be flooded and clogged with sand, railroad and highway infrastructure would be damaged, the billion-dollar Mississippi River transportation system would likely be shut down for an extended period, and unreinforced brick buildings and chimneys could be damaged to distances of 600 miles from New Madrid, Mo.
We know the 1811-1812 earthquake sequence was not just a freakish one-time event. Digging in to the sand blows geologists have also found widespread evidence of pre-historic sand blows telling of similar sequences of earthquakes around 1450, 900, and 300 A.D. The USGS earthquake hazard map, which is a compilation of scientific studies over the past 40 years, demonstrates the earthquake hazard created by this earthquake history and that much of the nation is at risk from damaging earthquakes. For example, historical accounts document two other powerful earthquakes, one that struck Cape Ann, Ma. in 1755, and the other Charleston, S.C. in 1886. Both were prior to instrumental recording, but their magnitudes are estimated to have been about magnitude 6.3 and 7.3 respectively. Of course, there was not as much to shake in those days, but should there be a repeat of earthquakes like this, they would strike large areas, and possibly a few populous cities (St. Louis, Nashville, Memphis, and Little Rock) without a history of earthquake preparedness. Strong, damaging earthquakes are clearly not just confined to the tectonic plate boundaries along the west coast of North America.
Thankfully, recent magnitude 5.3 to 5.8 earthquakes in Illinois, Colorado, Virginia, and Oklahoma did not cause loss of life, and there were no major failures of critical infrastructure. Some brick and stone buildings suffered damage and will need repairs. The fact that these quakes did not strike closer to urban areas was a stroke of luck and was largely responsible for the safety of the citizenry, not the citizenry's earthquake preparedness and response. Nevertheless, it is natural to fear earthquakes because unlike hurricanes, fires, tsunamis, or tornadoes, we cannot see them coming. But knowing what to do when an earthquake strikes, that we are prepared for the worst, and that we live in an earthquake-safe environment can bring much peace of mind. So what SHOULD people do if they find themselves being shaken by an earthquake and how can they be better prepared? Here are some quick tips:

1. If you are inside, stay inside. Get under a sturdy table or desk and hold on. Stay away from windows, bookcases, and other falling objects and glass - Drop, Cover, and Hold
2. If you are outside, stay outside, unless you are right next to a building that could have falling glass or bricks. In that case, duck into a doorway for shelter.
3. If driving in a car, stay in the car, but safely pull over to a stop, ideally not on or under a bridge or overpass.
4. AFTER the event it is natural that you will want to check on loved ones, but send out a text message rather than call; it has far less impact on communication systems.
5. BEFORE the next event, think about how you can make your surroundings safer. The FEMA website has abundant information on what to do in case of an earthquake, and how to make your home, business, or community more earthquake resilient.

As a transplanted California resident and veteran of many earthquakes, I encourage you to learn about earthquake preparedness-being prepared to take care of your family after an earthquake is applicable to many kinds of natural disasters. Of course the first rule of earthquake response is you have to KNOW you are IN AN EARTHQUAKE! Perhaps we need more amusement park or 3-D movie theatre experiences that simulate earthquakes so that everyone, no matter how infrequent their earthquake hazard, will better understand what to expect? Just a thought...

Marcia McNutt
Director, US Geological Survey

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Missouri Earthquake History - USGS

Most of Missouri's earthquake activity has been concentrated in the southeast corner of the State, which lies within the New Madrid seismic zone.

The written record of earthquakes in Missouri prior to the nineteenth century is virtually nonexistent; however, there is a geologic evidence that the New Madrid seismic zone has had a long history of activity. The first written account of an earthquake in the region was by a French missionary on a voyage down the Mississippi River. He reported feeling a distinct tremor on Christmas Day 1699 while camped in the area of what is now Memphis, Tennessee.
Whatever the seismic history of the region may have been before the first Europeans arrived, after December 16, 1811, there could be no doubt about the area's potential to generate severe earthquakes. On that date, shortly after 2 AM, the first tremor of the most violent series of earthquakes in the United States history struck southeast Missouri. In the small town of New Madrid, about 290 kilometers south of St. Louis, residents were aroused from their sleep by the rocking of their cabins, the cracking of timbers, the clatter of breaking dishes and tumbling furniture, the rattling of falling chimneys, and the crashing of falling trees. A terrifying roaring noise was created as the earthquake waves swept across the ground. Large fissures suddenly opened and swallowed large quantities of river and marsh water. As the fissures closed again, great volumes of mud and sand were ejected along with the water.
The earthquake generated great waves on the Mississippi River that overwhelmed many boats and washed others high upon the shore. The waves broke off thousands of trees and carried them into the river. High river banks caved in, sand bars gave way, and entire islands disappeared. The violence of the earthquake was manifested by great topographic changes that affected an area of 78,000 to 130,000 square kilometers.
On January 23, 1812, a second major shock, seemingly more violent than the first, occurred. A third great earthquake, perhaps the most severe of the series, struck on February 7, 1812.
The three main shocks probably reached intensity XII, the maximum on the Modified Mercalli scale, although it is difficult to assign intensities, due to the scarcity of settlements at the time. Aftershocks continued to be felt for several years after the initial tremor. Later evidence indicates that the epicenter of the first earthquake (December 16, 1811) was probably in northeast Arkansas. Based on historical accounts, the epicenter of the February 7, 1812, shocks was probably close to the town of New Madrid.
Although the death toll from the 1811-12 series of earthquakes has never been tabulated, the loss of life was very slight. It is likely that if at the time of the earthquakes the New Madrid area had been as heavily populated as at present, thousands of persons would have perished. The main shocks were felt over an area covering at least 5,180,000 square kilometers. Chimneys were knocked down in Cincinnati, Ohio, and bricks were reported to have fallen from chimneys in Georgia and South Carolina. The first shock was felt distinctly in Washington, D.C., 700 miles away, and people there were frightened badly. Other points that reported feeling this earthquake included New Orleans, 804 kilometers away; Detroit, 965 kilometers away; and Boston, 1,769 kilometers away.
The New Madrid seismic zone has experienced numerous earthquakes since the 1811-12 series, and at least 35 shocks of intensity V or greater have been recorded in Missouri since 1811. Numerous earthquakes originating outside of the State's boundaries have also affected Missouri. Five of the strongest earthquakes that have affected Missouri since the 1811-12 series are described below.
On January 4, 1843, a severe earthquake in the New Madrid area cracked chimneys and walls at Memphis, Tennessee. One building reportedly collapsed. The earth sank at some places near New Madrid; there was an unverified report that two hunters were drowned during the formation of a lake. The total felt area included at least 1,036,000 square kilometers.
The October 31, 1895, earthquake near Charleston, Missouri, probably ranks second in intensity to the 1811-12 series. Every building in the commercial area of Charleston was damaged. Cairo, Illinois, and Memphis, Tennessee, also suffered significant damage. Near Charleston, 4 acres of ground sank and a lake was formed. The shock was felt over all or portions of 23 states and at some places in Canada.
A moderate earthquake on April 9, 1917, in the Ste. Genevieve - St. Marys area was reportedly felt over a 518,000 square kilometer area from Kansas to Ohio and Wisconsin to Mississippi. In the epicentral area people ran into the street, windows were broken, and plaster cracked. A second shock of lesser intensity was felt in the southern part of the area.
The small railroad town of Rodney, Missouri, experienced a strong earthquake on August 19, 1934. At nearby Charleston, windows were broken, chimneys were overthrown or damaged, and articles were knocked from shelves. Similar effects were observed at Cairo, Mounds and Mound City, Illinois, and at Wickliff, Kentucky. The area of destructive intensity included more than 596 square kilometers.
The November 9, 1968, earthquake centered in southern Illinois was the strongest in the central United States since 1895. The magnitude 5.5 shock caused moderate damage to chimneys and walls at Hermann, St. Charles, St. Louis, and Sikeston, Missouri. The felt areas include all or portions of 23 states.
Earthquake Information Bulletin, Volume 6, Number 3, May-June 1974, by Carl A. von Hake.
For a list of earthquakes that have occurred since this article was written, use the Earthquake Search.

San Andreas Fault Mysteries Begin to Unravel - USGS

San Andreas Fault Mysteries Begin to Unravel
Released: 12/1/2011 10:04:24 AM

Contact Information: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Office of Communications and Publishing 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr, MS 119 Reston, VA 20192

Heidi Koontz Phone: 303-202-4763

Differences in seismic activity along the San Andreas fault appear to be related to strength variations in the lower crust and upper mantle, as suggested by new findings in the Dec. 1 edition of Nature.
U.S. Geological Survey scientist Paul Bedrosian, along with colleagues Michael Becken, Oliver Ritter, and Ute Weckmann from the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany, used an electromagnetic geophysical method to image subsurface conductivity within the crust.
"Segmentation of the San Andreas fault was first identified more than 40 years ago based on distinct patterns of seismicity. This work links mantle fluids, possibly resulting from ancient subduction along the California coast, and their interaction with the crust, as the driver behind the observed differences. This is really exciting as it illustrates how past structure and tectonics effects present-day dynamics along the San Andreas fault," said Bedrosian.
Fluid influx is implicated as a driving force behind the processes that ultimately define seismic segmentation. The findings may help to explain why motion along the fault results in earthquakes on some segments and less harmful creep on others.
"Decades ago USGS researchers explored the strong dependence of water on the strength of the rocks in the deep crust and upper mantle, with the firm conviction that this effect would be key to understanding fault mechanics," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Now finally with new technology available to map the in situ distribution of water at depths inaccessible to geologic observation, we have an excellent example of how an investment in basic research will pay off in a very practical understanding of a long-standing mystery that affects lives and property."
The area studied is a transition zone between segments of locked and creeping behavior along the San Andreas fault, and includes a zone of pronounced seismic tremor. The data provide evidence of fluids migrating into the creeping section that appear to originate from a region that is also responsible for stimulating tremors. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that high fluid pressures play a crucial role in the weakening of faults.
"Understanding how large and possibly dangerous fault systems, like the San Andreas fault, work in all their complexity is a grand challenge. The San Andreas fault is a key natural laboratory for studying large transform faults, as many geo-scientific methods are tested here to provide different pieces of the puzzle. I hope that our results will trigger similar research along other major active fault systems around the world," said Weckmann.
The article may be read in full online.

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Emotional Preparedness

Emotional Preparedness

Each year Missourians are affected by disasters such as tornadoes, fires, floods, and power outages.  You and your family's emotional preparedness are just as important as gathering items for an emergency supply kit or practicing emergency evacuations.  Disasters can stir up many different feelings and thoughts and prior planning can help alleviate some of that stress and anxiety.  It is a good idea to talk with your family about the type of emergencies you could face and what your response may be.  Hold family tornado and fire drills so that everyone is familiar with what to do when disaster does strike.  Individuals that practice responses to disaster situations will be able to react quicker with less stress when it does occur. 
Emotional well-being and healing are just as important as rebuilding a home and mending physical injuries.  You may be surprised at how you and others may feel after a disaster. Disasters can stir up many different feelings and thoughts.  People may experience fear concerning their safety or that of a loved one, shock, disbelief, grief, anger and guilt.  Memory problems, anxiety and depression are also possible after experiencing a disaster.  These reactions are common and are usually temporary.
Disasters are upsetting experiences for everyone involved.  Children, senior citizens, people with disabilities and individuals who do not speak English are especially at risk.  Children may become afraid and some elderly people may seem disoriented at first.  People with disabilities may require additional assistance.  It is important that you talk with children and elderly people in a calm manner letting them know that they are safe and that you will help them find a safe place to stay.
When disaster strikes, a child's view of the world as a safe and predictable place is temporarily lost. Children become afraid that the event will happen again and that they or their family may be injured or killed.  The damage, injuries and deaths that can result from an unexpected or uncontrollable event are difficult for most children to understand.  A supportive response by a parent or other adult to a child following any traumatic event can help children recover more quickly and completely. Children of different ages react in different ways to trauma.
Some basic steps you can take to meet physical and emotional needs:

• Try to return to as many of your personal and family routines as possible.
• Get rest, nutritional food, and drink plenty of water.
• Limit your exposure to the sights and sounds of disaster, especially on television, the radio and in the newspapers.
• Focus on the positive.
• Recognize your own feelings. Reach out and accept help from others.
• If you have not been greatly impacted, reach out and help others.
• Do something you enjoy.  Do something as a family that you have all enjoyed in the past.
• Stay connected with your family and/or other support systems.
• Realize that recovery can take time.

As you put your family’s emergency plan together, talk to your entire family about how you will respond to different emergency situations.  Individuals that practice responses to disaster situations will be able to react quicker with less stress when it does occur.   You will always feel better knowing that you are prepared and ready for anything.
For additional information related to disaster mental health, go to http://health.mo.gov/emergencies/ert/disastermh.php.

Life on the Fault Line

(Across The Valley - Spring 2008)

                                                                        By  Susan Perez

California has its faults……approximately 200 that have been identified and many more will be discovered in the coming years.  Many of our 37 million plus residents of Southern California have learned how to cope sitting atop the roughly 800 mile long San Andreas Fault which forms the boundary for the Pacific and the North American plates.  The Pacific Plate and the North American plates are grinding past each other at approximately two inches per year and they have been doing so long before we began recording them over 100 years ago.  Our “Golden State” state hosts half of the nation’s seismic risk.  There are approximately 30 earthquakes a day in Southern California and 45-50 in Northern California.   As we go about our busy schedules, many of these earthquakes go undetected, but they are occurring continually under our feet. 

We have witnessed the aftermath of the San Francisco quake of April 18, 1906, with an approximate magnitude of M7.7-7.9; the M7.1 Loma Prieta quake of October 17, 1989 and we are constantly preparing for the anticipated “Big One”.  Many might think that the M6.7 Northridge quake of 1994 was our “Big One”.  It wasn’t!    It was just a wakeup call of things to come.  Northridge was not even considered catastrophic.  That being said, I am sure that the people it affected would say we are incorrect.  However, catastrophic events are defined by the devastation of our infrastructure.  The inability to continue business, supply utilities, and a shortage of food and water would severely impact our society and would take months, if not years to replace.  Katrina was catastrophic.  The disaster was so large, that you could not drive out of it.  Dr. Lucy Jones has stated that “our anticipated 7.9 which might have a shake capability of two to four minutes will be our “Katrina without the water”.   

New information released on April 14, 2008, by the Southern California Earthquake Center shows there is a 99.7% chance of Southern California experiencing an earthquake magnitude 6.7 or larger on the Southern San Andreas Fault.  This gives us pause for reflection and concern for our future.  But this scenario is not one of doom and gloom unless, we do nothing.  There are fire, police, emergency management, focus groups, inter-agency plans, training and statistical information that are available to us.  Our responsibility is to act upon that information.  Preparedness is the key; mitigation will save structures and lives.  But why is there such complacence?  Often we say it will not happen here, or to me, and so forth.  I think that Katrina along with 911 should cement the fact that it has…. and it will…. and most importantly, it is survivable.   The time to act is now, not next week, or next month.   The time to buy water, food or gasoline is not the day of the disaster.  You want to be safe with your families and shelter in place if possible.  Make sure everyone in your household and at work knows the plan of action. 

The upcoming “Golden Guardian – Shift Happens” statewide earthquake exercise in November 2008 will test our capabilities to endure and survive a catastrophic earthquake.  The scenario will be based on 15 years of research by our own Dr. Lucy Jones of the USGS.  This drill will be using real data collected on the capacity of our 800 mile long San Andrea fault.  Since the length of the fault line in large part determines the magnitude you may discount those disaster movies which say we could experience a 9 or 10 magnitude.  Our fault line is just not long enough.  A fault that would generate a ten would potentially circle the globe and cut the earth in half the experts say.

So …does that mean we can relax?  Only if you are prepared!  From years of providing Community Disaster Education to churches, schools, neighborhood watch groups, women’s clubs, etc. I have learned that preparedness is empowering.  That being said, preparedness begins at home.  Every individual has the responsibility to prepare themselves and their families for disaster.  As Red Cross we are the bridge to providing our city and community entities with the training and support to be ready to endure a disaster.  Remember …. “Together You Can Save a Life” and the life you save may be your own!    

200 Year Anniversary of the New Madrid - December 16, 2011

Today as we reflect on the 200 year anniversary of the December 16, 1811 earthquake, we must ask ourselves ...are WE prepared?  As 2:15 a.m came and went this morning, I am hesitant to say that we are not.  Although we have extensive information, scientific research and data, our complacency is still evident in our lack of recognition that we live on the most massive earthquake fault east of the Rocky Mountains. 

Each day we hear of disasters whether they be floods, hurricanes, winter storms, tornadoes, fires, etc.  Still they always happen to other people in other areas we tell ourselves.  "I'll do something tomorrow... or when I have a little extra cash... and for some tomorrow never comes.  What we fail to realize is aptly stated by Benjamin Franklin "Those who fail to prepare are preparing to fail".  Which are you.....