Things+we+don't+know+about+Missouri

1. Are we prepared for a earthquake in Missouri? 2. Have we ever had a earthquake in Missouri? 3. What would the effects of the earthquake do to us? 4. Could we make our buildings earthquake proof? 6. If we were to have a earthquake in Missouri, would Missouri move like Japan did? 7. What was the biggest earthquake Missouri has had? 8. Would we be affected by the nuclear plant if it blew up? 9. Does Missouri have any nuclear plants? 10. How much money would it take to disaster proof Missouri? Or the United States? 11. If we had another earthquake would it be as bad as japan or worse? 12. How long is the New Madrid Fault Line? ~The New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) is the most active seismic area in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. The NMSZ is located in southeastern Missouri, northeastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, western Kentucky and southern Illinois. Southwestern Indiana and northwestern Mississippi are also close enough to receive significant shaking from large earthquakes occurring in the NMSZ. The measured locations of microseismic earthquakes show some trends that have been used to identify active faults in the NMSZ. The trends indicate a four-segment, zig-zag fault system with a total length of about 125 miles stretching from Marked Tree, Arkansas northeastward through Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky to Cairo, Illinois. http://www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/geores/techbulletin1.htm <--- a really cool website!
 * Debate over need for seismic building strength at St. Louis; river bridges strengthened The Reelfoot fault is building a pressure that could make it buckle again. Should St. Louis adopt strict building codes for a 1 in 2500 year event, with expensive retrofits? Anheuser Busch believes in preparation. This story has many good details.
 * 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.
 * Most earthquake-related deaths are caused by the collapse of structures and the construction practices play a tremendous role in the death toll of an earthquake. In southern Italy in 1909 more than 100,000 people perished in an earthquake that struck the region. Almost half of the people living in the region of Messina were killed due to the easily collapsible structures that dominated the villages of the region. A larger earthquake that struck San Francisco three years earlier had killed fewer people (about 700) because building construction practices were different type (predominantly wood). Survival rates in the San Francisco earthquake was about 98%, that in the Messina earthquake was between 33% and 45%) (Zebrowski, 1997). Building practices can make all the difference in earthquakes, even a moderate rupture beneath a city with structures unprepared for shaking can produce tens of thousands of casualties.
 * To be earthquake proof, buildings, structures and their foundations need to be built to be resistant to sideways loads. The lighter the building is, the less the loads. This is particularly so when the weight is higher up. Where possible the roof should be of light-weight material. If there are floors and walls and partitions, the lighter these are the better, too. If the sideways resistance is to be obtained from walls, these walls must go equally in both directions. They must be strong enough to take the loads. They must be tied in to any framing, and reinforced to take load in their weakest direction. They must not fall apart and must remain in place after the worst shock waves so as to retain strength for the after shocks. 5.Where are the fault lines in Missouri?
 * The biggest earthquake missouri has ever had was a 7.7 on the rector scale back in 1812 http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1811-1812.php