Tuesday, February 5, 2013

A New Madrid Documentary

Its been a very busy week of blogging to say the least,  It came to my attention that the docmentary that Kentucky Educational Television filmed on the New Madrid earthquakes is now been aired.  I had the chance to go with their film crew as they explored the New Madrid area and  told the story of the great earthquakes.  It was an opportunity for me to tell others the New Madrid story and to explore the earthquake zone in some spots that I had not seen before.  It was interesting expedition and met some good people in the process.  Also the co-host is Toby the dog who is an excellent ambassador for the Kentucky Life series
For the video go to New Madrid documentary

Here I am at the far right with the KET crew and Toby in the middle.  Photo was taken near Tiptonville on the  Mississippi river.

Monday, February 4, 2013

The February 7th Earthquake/The Great Shakeout

On the two hundred and first anniversary of the greatest of the New Madrid earthquakes, several government agencies that CERI works with are holding an earthquake preparedness drill called the The Great Shakeout.  This drill is being held to both raise awareness of the earthquake risk in the Central United States and test preparedness in case an event such as a major earthquake were to occur.  People are encouraged to participate in the drill as a way to enhance their awareness of the possiblity of earthquakes occurring in the area and hone their preparedness skills.  One simple idea is drop conver and hold on.  As exemplified by this simple graphic, if an earthquake occurs  individuals would drop to the ground, cover themselves and hold on until the quake ceases.
  There are many ways to participate so go to the web site and see what you can do!
As a bit of reminder here is a eyewitness account for the February 7, 1812 earthquake at
"Between the hours of 3 and 5 on the morning of Friday last, a shock of the Earthquake was felt in this place, much more violent and alarming than any which have hitherto been experienced. It was also of greater duration and accompanied with a rumbling noise and flashes of light from the N. W. The bricks on the houses were in some places, removed from their positions. The buildings were violently agitated, and the walls are known in some influences to have been cracked. At Louisville the gable ends of houses have tumbled down, and at Frankfort we hear that the penitentiary has partially suffered." Report for the February 7, 1812 earthquake from Vincennes , Indiana  From the Western Sun, 02/22/1812 18120222_nmad_10_130.

George Washington Feels an Earthquake.

In honor of Washington's birthday here is the story of when one of our founding fathers felt an earthquake.  In 1783 at the close  of the American Revolution, Washington was in New York City  shortly after the British evacuated the town as part of the terms of peace between the British empire and the new republic.  Washington was staying at the historic Fraunces tavern( or the Queens Head tavern) when on the night of November 29 the town was shaken by a series of seismic shocks.  These were generated by an earthquake centered in New Jersey that was estimated to be 5.3 on the Richter scale and was the largest earthquake in New Jersey history. Washington, living up to his reputation of being cool under fire was not stirred by the quakes while others fled from their houses.
Source:  Washington, A Life(2010), by Ron Chernow, Page 451.
For further information on the quake: Historic Earthquakes in New Jersey