Magnitude 4.2 quake shakes Arkansas

[funkybutt]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Arkansas%20Earthquake

CARAWAY, Ark. -- A small earthquake centered in northeastern Arkansas rattled parts of several states Thursday but caused no major damage.

Shaking was felt as far away as Memphis, Tenn., and in Mississippi casinos.

A preliminary report from the U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, which hit at 8:05 a.m. four miles east of Caraway, had a magnitude of 4.2. A quake of magnitude 4 can cause moderate damage.

"I mean, it was shaking," said John Cannon, who was roused awake by a 2 1/2-second rumble in Memphis, 50 miles south of the epicenter. "I thought someone got in the bed with me. It was strong."

[HereSince1628]

1. The area is riddle with faults from a "failed" rift

Too bad for Chicago Bears fans...this wasn't the big one that takes out St. Louis.

[mediaman007]

30. The Lord is speaking to sinners...repent Freepers!

[Vogon_Glory]

80. That's What I Was Thinking

Arkansas, eh? That was red-state territory despite Bill Clinton.

At times I wonder if the right-wingers are getting the G*d they say they believe in--but it looks like that Deity's wrath is not directed at who is sleeping with whom, but rather how well His worshipers are keeping more important Biblical tenets.

[Quakerfriend]

2. Wow! I never knew that Arkansas had earthquake

activity!

We will only see move of this type of earth changes, IMO.

One 6.2 in Indonesia yesterday, as well. Really scared many of the already traumatized victims of the tsunami.

[sybylla]

7. A massive earthquake hit an area just north of Arkansas in 1811

It's usually refered to as the New Madrid earthquate, if I remember correctly. It left gaping cracks in the ground and rerouted the Mississippi.

I've heard predictions that another very large earthquake will likely hit the Mississippi valley in the next 100 years. It will cause some major damage because we haven't even thought of designing our buildings and infrastructure to withstand them.

[Zynx]

11. Actually it was THREE Earthquakes

Each well over 8.0 :wow:

[mod mom]

40. Rapture? nt

[icymist]

109. Yeah but, but....

Aren't people in The Rapture supposed to get taken up? Not swallowed up?

[Eloriel]

41. Yes, it's called the New Madrid Fault

and because of the geology of the area is expected to do horrific damage if/when she blows again. One of the eye-witness accounts of that 1811 quake said it made the Mississippi River "flow backwards." The Mississippi is a pretty big river in that area, so that's awesome to think about (if true and not hyperbole or misperception).

There's a small museum along the riverfront/levee in St. Genevieve (MO) re the earthquake and fault which is just fascinating.

Edited to add: It's pronounced Mad'-rid, not Ma-drid' -- just in case anyone is interested.

[emcguffie]

60. Reelfoot Lake was formed --

And Crowley's Ridge. Which is like a little short 3-mile stretch of big hills, right in the middle of completely flat plains. It runs north and south, and I'm sorry I don't know how long it is. But it's like a big wrinkle in Arkansas. It was formed in the 1811 earthquake, which was truly massive and toppled a chimney in Virginia, I think.

[happyslug]

69. Some says Crowley's Ridge was formed by the Ohio and Mississippi

After the last ice age as the Glaciers melted the Mississippi flowed West of Crowley's Ridge, while the Ohio Flowed west of the Ridge. The rivers merged south of the Ridge. As the Ice pact received into Canada and the Glacier melted was diverted to the St. Lawrence, the Mississippi broke through the northern part of Crowley's Ridge and formed the present course and merger of the Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri Rivers:

For more see:
http://www.scsc.k12.ar.us/BorneC/newpage9.htm

[Red State Rebel]

71. I'm glad you specified the correct pronunciation :)

I live in Missouri and I still can't get over the New Madrid pronunciation!

[dflprincess]

94. I remember hearing that if the New Madrid blow big

the whole Mississippi will feel it, even as far north as Minnesota.

[HeeBGBz]

47. Northeastern Arkansas is part of the New Madrid fault line.

I should have felt this one, but I didn't.

[pacifictiger]

83. Arkansas

ranks 12th on the list of most active earthquake states.

[soleft]

3. Must be the atomic sub near the Clinton Library

[GiovanniC]

5. LOL>>> That is Obscure But Funny!

[Bethany Rockafella]

6. LOL!

Should we blame Bush?:-)

[AuntiBush]

86. Good!

Really good line, there! :thumbsup:

[daleo]

4. I think a relatively weak quake can be felt a long way away, here

I seem to recall that earthquakes in this area don't have their energy attenuated very much by the ground, so a quake that is considered small in other regions can cause substantial damage.

[Zynx]

23. Exactly

The Eastern US transmits earthquakes a LONG way. I live in SE Wisconsin, and a minor 4.0 in central Illinois sounded like a damn bomb going off here.

The massive 1811 New Madrid series of quakes broke windows and rang church bells in Boston.

[Red State Rebel]

73. Let's hear it for good old solid bedrock..

None of that sandy stuff here in Missouri to absorb any of the shock.

[SnoopDog]

8. Being a self-proclaimed amateur scientist...

There seems to be an influx of very large earthquakes and earthquakes in unusual areas. What is Mother Nature up to?

I have a theory: Global Warming.

For the last 20,000 years, the world is basically in a 'steady-state'. The north and south poles have accumulated ice and therefore ‘weight’ or ‘mass’. Through many thousands of years, the earth has ‘settled’ into its current weight distribution.

Along comes Global Warming. The ice at the poles is melting. The reduction of weight is causing the mass of the earth to be redistributed and therefore the ‘steady-state’ of the earth is disrupted. These changes impose new stresses along the fault lines and therefore earthquakes.

If we do not do something about Global Warming, Mother Nature will.


opps: spelling

[Zenlitened]

10. I think you're in no danger of losing your amateur status.

:eyes:

[SnoopDog]

12. And your point is....?

[dbt]

24. Hang in, Snoop

There's no shortage of Experts On Everything here.

:hi:
dbt
Little Rock

[Zenlitened]

27. Why, thank you. I didn't realize that having some knowledge...

... of the Earth's tectonic history, as well as a passing understanding of the masses involved in polar glaciation and melting, made me an Expert On Everything.

Preferable to being Gullible To Every Crackpot Theory That Comes Along, I suppose.

[SnoopDog]

34. They once thought the earth was flat as well.

The earth a sphere? Silly crackpot theories!

[Zenlitened]

35. Huh? Are you equating your speculations...

... with scientific observation used to overcome superstition and myth about the nature of the earth? Please, I think you're getting a bit carried away with yourself.

[SnoopDog]

38. To instantly disqualify a theory as you are doing...

implies a closed mind.

My original post is just a theory - nothing more, nothing less.

I bet you think Global Warming is a crackpot theory as well?

[Zenlitened]

42. Well, you're telling me a lot about the way you think...

... and it's not flattering.

I dismissed your "theory" not "instantly," as you assume, but based on 40 years of living and learning.

Then for you to jump to the conclusion that I reject the facts supporting global warming... well, where do you get that?

The fact is, your post tends to denigrate the seriousness of global warming, by irrationally linking it to tectonic processes that have been going on for billions of years.

So don't try to portray yourself as some sort of Defender of the Scientific Tradition, okay? It's posts like yours that make DU look bad, as in the whole Global-Warming-Caused-the-Tsunami debacle of some weeks ago.

[SnoopDog]

43. Your post proves my point! Thanks!

[Zenlitened]

44. I love it! The "Your post proves my point" moment of flailing.

That's the last refuge of someone who's run out of intelligent arguments.

It's really not far off from "I know you are but what am I?"

Says nothing, but does so with drama and an air of self-assurance, however misplaced.

Good luck to you.

[SnoopDog]

45. On the contrary...

I prefer to post to/with more intellectual posters...

Good luck to you as well!

[Zenlitened]

46. "I'm rubber, you're glue. Everything you say...

... bounces off me and sticks to you."

If I may be so bold as to paraphrase your post. :hi:

[DrWeird]

49. Most intellectual posters...

can spot the clear differences between science and pseudoscience.

[Herkdrvr]

70. Definitions of "theory"

As an "amateur scientist", you'd understand there's a difference between what the scientific community refers to as "theory" and what lay people refer to as "theory":

Scientific theory: A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.

Pay close attention to the phrase "repeatedly tested". You pulled your "theory" out of thin air, and in fact your "theory" uses the OTHER more common definition of the word:

Everyday theory: An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture.

Strangely enough, I've had this same arguement with creationists over their "creation theory" versus actual scientific evolutionary theories.

So no, I am not being "close minded" to your "theory". Instead, as someone who holds a degree in geology, I understand the difference between scientific theory and conjecture.

Jeez people, there isn't a need to spin EVERYTHING in a political light. Earthquakes are quite common in much of the US...most you'll never feel. There are fault lines everywhere...and anywhere you have fault lines, you have the chance of an earthquake.

Also, as a scientist, it absolutely angers me to see crackpot "amateur scientists" spinning wild stories about global warming. For example, a few years ago, an environmental advocacy group ran radio ads in the city I was living in which depicted a father bringing his kid to the museum to see a tree, supposedly because they didn't exist anymore and everyone had to use oxygen tanks...all because we didn't fix global warming...and the date they told you to imagine? Something like 2050. Ahem...MOST of the intelligent people who are skeptical of global warming theories are that way because of these nutsy depictions. Please stop and present REAL data.

[SnoopDog]

76. So, you are a geologist... What college did you graduate from?

Since you are a geologist, are you saying that my theory is completely bunk? Can you please offer some arguments against my theory? It would be appreciated.

By the way, here are the definitions of theory from the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary. There is no 'repeatedly tested' phrase mentioned.


Definition:

1 : the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another
2 : abstract thought : SPECULATION
3 : the general or abstract principles of a body of fact, a science, or an art <music theory>
4 a : a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action <her method is based on the theory that all children want to learn> b : an ideal or hypothetical set of facts, principles, or circumstances -- often used in the phrase in theory <in theory, we have always advocated freedom for all>
5 : a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena <wave theory of light>
6 a : a hypothesis assumed for the sake of argument or investigation b : an unproved assumption : CONJECTURE c : a body of theorems presenting a concise systematic view of a subject <theory of equations>

[Zenlitened]

81. Better yet, why don't you offer some data in support of your premise?

For example, what is the mass of the icecaps at the poles? How much mass has been lost to global warming?

Also, how many calories of heat have been added to the atmosphere as a result of global warming? How much of this heat has been absorbed by the earth's surface? How much heat would be required to appreciably raise the average temperature of a tectonic plate? What span of time would be required?

[SnoopDog]

82. It is funny how you never offer your reasons

why my theory is bunk.

But to answer some of your questions...

There is over 600,000 km of glacier ice outside the great ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland (Dyurgerov and Meier, 1997). This ice is distributed among both relatively large ice caps of 103 to 104 km, and very large numbers of smaller glaciers. The bulk of the ice volume is contained in the large ice caps which reach up to about 1000 m in thickness. From http://www.cpom.org.


From www.grida.no:

On time-scales of 103 to 105 years, the most important processes affecting sea level are those associated with the growth and decay of the ice sheets through glacial-interglacial cycles. These contributions include the effect of changes in ocean volume and the response of the earth to these changes. The latter are the glacio-hydro-isostatic effects: the vertical land movements induced by varying surface loads of ice and water and by the concomitant redistribution of mass within the Earth and oceans. While major melting of the ice sheets ceased by about 6,000 years ago, the isostatic movements remain and will continue into the future because the Earth’s viscous response to the load has a time-constant of thousands of years. Observational evidence indicates a complex spatial and temporal pattern of the resulting isostatic sea level change for the past 20,000 years. As the geological record is incomplete for most parts of the world, models (constrained by the reliable sea level observations) are required to describe and predict the vertical land movements and changes in ocean area and volume.

Your other questions - are actually good questions. These questions are exactly what scientists are researching.

I find it un-DU like to hammer on my posting of a theory. DUers, liberals, democrats, lefters, whatever are by definition, tolerant of others and tolerant of new ideas. To attempt to squash an idea, well, is closed minded and reminds me of people running our country.

Since you claim to have 40 years of knowledge, etc, and understanding of tectonic plates, etc, please, please explain where my theory goes wrong.

[Zenlitened]

84. My criticisms of your proposition were implied in my questions above...

... as I hope you'll see.

I'd also point out that nothing in the text you cited speaks to a link between tectonic changes and human-induced global warming.

The 103- to 105-year span refers -- obliquely -- to sea levels, not to isostatic movements of the Earth's crust.

This is where your theory goes wrong: The time scale is simply too brief for atmospheric changes to have been translated into major perturbations of tectonic plates.

[SnoopDog]

87. I disagree - there are no predefined timetables for changes

in our environment. And, actually, because changes are happening rapidly, potentially, it is causing a global life threatening event.

Please refer to my post - #68 showing a steady increase in earthquakes for the last 5 years.

What is your next argument - I can only wonder!

[Zenlitened]

88. Wonder no more!

Your statement "there are no predefined timetables for changes" strikes me as a stawman of some sort.

The properties of matter and heat themselves can help us construct a "timetable" for change on such a massive scale.

As for your post #68... where does it describe the link between the atmosphere and earthquake activity?

[SnoopDog]

89. #68 indicates an increase of earthquakes in the last 5 years...

What is a 'stawman'?

I do realize you are extremely intelligent... Please offer your own reasons why this theory is impossible!

[Zenlitened]

90. Got me. I failed to spell-check my post. Score one for you!

Here, again, is my own reason for doubting your conjecture:

The time scale is too brief for changes in the atmosphere to have been translated into major perturbations of tectonic plates.

You're seeing a cause-and-effect that just isn't there, based on everything we know about the time-scale of change and the physical scales of the systems involved.

[SnoopDog]

91. I would say that global warming has been brewing for quite awhile.

I would disagree that you can put a 'minimum time period' on all earth events.

I thank you for your absolute and within the box intellectuality. I for one attempt to think more broadly. And, although the reason for my original post was simply to pose a theory, it can absolutely be true.

Independent of anything we have written today, global warming is real and is killing not only the USA but the world.

[Zenlitened]

93. "I thank you for your absolute and within the box intellectuality"

Yep, that's me all over.

It's not that the physical properties of matter and energy argue against your premise.

It's that I'm too rigid a thinker.

Hi-ho.

[SnoopDog]

97. By the way...

It was nice to kick your self-proclaimed intellectual ass today...

[Zenlitened]

98. .

http://www.palantir.net/cgi-bin/file.cgi?file=wav/goodbye.wav

[Zenlitened]

100. Nice edit, by the way.

"kick OUR self-proclaimed..." becomes "YOUR self-proclaimed." Quite a change in meaning.

Ignoring the fact that you're the only one who made any proclamations about himself, do you really believe you kicked anyone's ass with your performance today? Or are you just saying that to make yourself feel better?

Feel free to take another 2-plus hours to think up something devastatingly clever. I'll check back in the morning

[SnoopDog]

101. Thank you Ms. Zenlitened!

[dbt]

54. One additional point, Snoop:

They live for flame wars. Beware any thoughts that are not Sanctioned.

:evilgrin:
dbt

[Zenlitened]

55. Sanctioned by whom?

:shrug:

[SnoopDog]

61. Thanks DBT...!

I try to think things through... And in all seriousness, it is possible that the redistribution of weight could cause earthquakes.

Since earthquakes are alot like medical science, in that we are learning more everyday, all legitimate theories can and should at least be pondered.

[DistantWind88]

13. LMAO

[reprobate]

57. Same idea occurred to me reading the headline.

There is the change of mass of the poles with the melting of the glaciers.

I would also speculate that the warming of the crust should have an effect on tectonics. Warming should cause expansion of the crust (tho small effect) which increases stress which must give way in slippage. Ergo earthquakes.

The one thing that is certain is that we don't know enough about the only planet we have.

[SnoopDog]

62. I just got back from a walk and was thinking the same thing...

Yes, warming of the crust could have additional effects.

One point is for sure - global warming is occurring. Our weather patterns are very screwy. More natural phenomenon are occurring - like earthquakes.

And we have a president who takes no interest in this problem. I hope it won't be too late when a real president is elected and can do something about it.

I guess, we the people, must stand in and fight this battle for now.

[DistantWind88]

64. Yeah , good thing earthquakes

never happened before global warming...

[SnoopDog]

65. My original post states

that earthquakes happen all the time.

It seems strange, however, that more and consistently larger magnitude quakes are occurring more frequently.

[DistantWind88]

66. Really?

Do you have an scientific evidence to support your assertion that "more and consistently larger magnitude quakes are occurring more frequently?"

[SnoopDog]

68. Yes, please go to link provided

It is from the USGS.

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/eqstats.html

Here is a report from the link...
And additional years are also provided at the USGS

Number of Earthquakes Worldwide for 2000 - 2005
Located by the US Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center

Magnitude 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
8.0 to 9.9 1 1 0 1 2 0
7.0 to 7.9 14 15 13 14 13 0
6.0 to 6.9 158 126 130 140 139 22
5.0 to 5.9 1345 1243 1218 1203 1373 229
4.0 to 4.9 8045 8084 8584 8462 10563 459
3.0 to 3.9 4784 6151 7005 7624 7538 215
2.0 to 2.9 3758 4162 6419 7727 6221 167
1.0 to 1.9 1026 944 1137 2506 1337 0
0.1 to 0.9 5 1 10 134 103 0
No Magnitude 3120 2938 2937 3608 3350 59
Total 22256 23534 27454 31419 *30639 *1151
Estimated
Deaths 231 21357 1685 33819 276856 3

[DistantWind88]

105. I thought you had some proof that

we were having more and greater earthquakes. Your link, which encompasses a relatively short time span (so short as not to be statistically relevant), does not to support your assertion.

[havocmom]

9. Yep, AR is now on the map

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/ This like will take you to live page, run your cursor around to the different circles and info on individual quakes will show



edited cuz I'm an idiot who can't type

[fudge stripe cookays]

18. I think you mean AR.

AK is Alaska. And it's on the map too,. Specially since the Anchorage quake in '64.

FSC

[havocmom]

21. Yes, thank you. Two hours of sleep not enough

[bloom]

22. The "map" just shows quakes from the last month... n/t

[fudge stripe cookays]

25. And if you look...

there are some shakes around the Alaska area. Obviously something is going on there too.

FSC

[alfredo]

37. There are two volcanos erupting in that region.

In Washington, Mt St Helens dome is growing 30 ft per day. It seems pretty quiet right now, but that can change quickly.

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/

[bloom]

48. You might be interested in this page:

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/large_usa.html


Most earthquakes over 7.0 have been in Alaska.

You don't hear about them much.





Also the "64 one being the 2nd largest one recorded anywhere.

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/10maps_world.html

[fudge stripe cookays]

53. After seeing those pictures....

I can definitely believe that!

Those huge crevasses right in the middle of streets, with cars and people and stores and everything in them.....

I saw them for the first time when I was about 10, and they scared the living crap out of me!

FSC

[kineneb]

102. ok, I remember the Alaska quake

-I was only 6. It had a big write-up in the National Geographic and Crescent City(CA) had some tsunami damage. The photos were impressive because so much of the damage was on land.

As a native Californian, earthquakes are nothing new. Loma Prieta was impressive at 7.0 or so, and we were over 200 mi from the epicenter. A 4.2 in the Bay Area is a little burp...makes the dishes rattle, that's all.

[gauguin57]

14. They've been waiting for YEARS for the New Madrid fault to go.

I read a huge article years ago in ... what was it, Time Magazine? ... about that fault and how it has the potential to make the San Andreas feel like a crack in the sidewalk if it ever really GOES.

[Zynx]

20. Yep - Memphis and St. Louis would be GONE

New Orleans would probably drown from the destruction of the Kentucky Lake dam. Probably several hundred thousand people would be killed and the US would be crippled for decades.

Cheery, huh?

[spunky]

51. I live in North Mississippi and I recall

back in the late 80's or early 90's (I was in grade school) there was some Nostradamus prediction and everyone thought the New Madrid fault was going to go again. He provided a specific date and everything. People around here got all freaked out and put together emergency kits etc. Of course nothing happened.

I didn't feel the earthquake this morning either. Wish I had. I would love to feel one. Just a little one, nothing catastrophic or that would cause damage. Just enough to feel the earth move.

[Red State Rebel]

72. You are correct! We are near St. Louis and have earthquake insurance

They've been predicting this for a loooong time.

[Rob H.]

15. I live in Memphis, and I didn't feel a damned thing

Not saying this Cannon guy didn't. I'm just saying.

[jmcgowanjm]

67. Lived just South and West of Memphis, my Mom felt every tremor

that's ever hit. I've never felt a bump.
That's wierd.

Up in Fayetteville we didn't get anything.

[Pithlet]

78. I was asleep

The kids and I slept through it. My husband was up, but said he didn't feel anything. He may have been on the road at the time, or just leaving.

I'm worried that the New Madrid fault is waking up, and the tremors will start getting more frequent, and stronger. I hear we're due for a big one :scared:

[Rob H.]

106. Weird thing is, "The Memphis Flyer" ran an article last week

about this very subject! It's available online here. I haven't read it yet, but I'm definitely going to now.




(The Memphis Flyer is our free local newsweekly, in case any DUers not from the area were wondering. The Commercial Appeal is the daily paper.)

[Pithlet]

107. I like the Memphis Flyer

It definitely has a liberal slan, compared to most other periodicals from this area. I missed that issue, though. Thanks for posting the link :) I'm definitely going to read it.

[babydollhead]

16. tell me this...

do these earthquakes have anything to do with the space war games over nevada?

[DistantWind88]

17. Ohh you're GOOD!

:-)

[HeeBGBz]

52. Watch out, babydollhead

The "Super tectonic plate experts" are sure to call down firey brimstone debunkery for even contemplating the rumbles are any way connected to anything military.

No one is allowed to suppose those things on DU. It's unseemly. It detracts from the collective and makes the quasi-self-proclaimed science masters get their panties in a wad.

[hootinholler]

19. And I thought Gaawwddd was punishing a red state. N/T

-Hoot

[dbt]

26. The bad news is: Mother Earth is PISSED OFF at us.

The good news is: it's too late to worry. MUCH too late.

:evilgrin:
dbt

[babydollhead]

28. how come everytime they play war games something happens?

[DistantWind88]

29. Well since something is being wargamed, somewhere,

every single day...there MUST be a correlation!

[babydollhead]

31. weren't they playing attack simulation 9/11?

[DistantWind88]

32. The military is wargaming something

daily. They have a whole command whose task that is.

[babydollhead]

33. yes, that is so.

ugh! my humanity!

[MadHound]

36. So that's what that was,

And I thought it was just because I hadn't had a second cup of coffee.
It wasn't much folks, at least not here in the Columbia Mo area, a little shake, and that was it. But it is interesting to say the least that the New Madrid fault has been going off with increasing frequency the past decade. I honestly think that it is getting ready to really rumble again.

When I was a kid in Hermann Mo, the New Madrid went off hard enough to shake the aquarium two hundred miles north. The last time it had gone off before that was when my grandmother was a child, turn of the century St. Louis.

Since then, it had gone off about once a decade, into the ninties, then started going off once every five years, now we're working hard on once a year(it went off at about the same force last year).

I think it is getting ready to really let loose soon. If that happens, all hell is going to break loose in the South/Midwest. Buildings here simply aren't built with earthquakes in mind, so when the big one comes, all hell is going to break loose. In addition, most of the people around here don't buy earthquake insurance, so a lot of people are going to be SOL and on the public dole when it comes to rebuilding. Personally, I've carried earthquake insurance on both my houses, it is cheap, and I always believe in being prepared.

Last time New Madrid went off big, it destroyed what little there was of St. Louis, ripped through the western colonies, and was felt as far away as the east coast. Changed the course of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The land is much more populated now, with lots of towns, cities and 'burbs sitting on what are essentially large limestone sinkholes. One good shake, and some of these small towns will just be swallowed up.

Damn, it was bad enough having to worry about the killer tornadoes, now we may have an earthquake rolling through sometime. Yippee! Still I would rather live here than anywhere else, the country is just absolutely beautiful, it is just the people who are strange.

[Kikosexy2]

39. 4.2...

that's an aftershock here in L.A.

[sarcasmo]

50. Wonder how many cars fell off of the cinder blocks?

[malachi]

56. LMAO!

[Red State Rebel]

74. ROFL! I bet these homeowners are sitting a little lower tonite!

[TexasLawyer]

79. Dang, you're funny!

I laughed out loud-- something generally frowned on at my office.

[Zynx]

58. Info on the FOUR 1811-1812 New Madrid Earthquakes

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/usa/1811-1812.html#december_16

Check out the damage area.

[Zynx]

59. Also, picture of NMSZ damage potential

Yellow is felt, red is minor-major damage.

You see the danger?

[HeeBGBz]

77. Memphis, St. Louis, Paducah

Would be in a world of hurt if there were a repeat of the 1811-1812 events.

[donheld]

104. Any idea how a major quake would affect

The Major rivers in that area?

BTW where did you get that map?

[loudsue]

63. All the bush CIA/mafia drug dealers in Mena, Arkansas just dropped off a

load of drugs!

http://www.pdxnorml.org/MENA2

Quite an education in there!

:kick:

[ChaoticSilly]

75. felt it this morning in Memphis

A co-worker & I always joked that if an earthquake ever happens, one of us will be at the top of a ladder - and sure enough, I was about 15ft in the air on an order picker in our warehouse this morning when it hit.

[AuntiBush]

85. Oh, no...

Can't you hear them now... Wonder if they'll feel the same about themselves as they did for the poor Tsunami victims? But, they are saved and the rest of us are, well... you know what the repuks say.

[paineinthearse]

92. If there were a 4.2 in California....

...there would be only passing mention. Ho hum.

[Pithlet]

95. For one thing

A magnitude 4.2 in this area is felt in a much larger area then it would be in California. For another thing, many buildings in this area aren't built to withstand stronger earth quakes because we don't have the same building codes (although hopefully that will change). And, lastly, there are predictions that a magnitude 7 or higher quake could hit here within the next 100 years.

So, yes, a 4.2 earth quake here actually IS a news story. Because we aren't California. ;)

[kineneb]

103. well, yes, 'cause we have little quakes all the time

The state is wired for sound (or quakes, in this case). And after so many fallen buildings in previous quakes, we have stringent building codes (ok, they may be a pain, but beat a lawsuit any day).

I hope nothing happens on the New Madrid fault because they don't have our building codes. It would probably look more like Bam, in Iran, with many of the buildings "pancake-ing". Not pleasant to contemplate.

[adigal]

96. Maybe it was the "Rapture" starting!!

and if it was, I call all of the Lexus'. I love those little truck Lexus, but don't want to pay that kind of money.

[leesa]

99. God must be punishing the evil Fundies!

[Gaben]

108. hmm

The conservatives must have the Under Siege 2 weapon and are attempting to wipe out the Clinton Presidential library!