NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Earthquake Awareness Month presents an excellent opportunity to emphasize the importance of preparedness. It is also a timely reminder that a significant portion of Arkansas is located within the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ).
Nearly 200 earthquakes happen every year in the central United States, although most go unnoticed. If a major earthquake were to occur in the NMSZ, the consequences could be devastating for many Arkansans.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a series of three large earthquakes caused complex changes in the physiography of the NMSZ between 1811 and 1812. Geologists have classified these earthquakes as some of the largest in the United States since its settlement by Europeans. Within the next 50 years, they estimate there is a 7-10% probability of a reoccurrence of the 1811-1812 earthquakes and a 25-40% probability of a M6.0 or greater within the NMSZ.
Much of the landscape within the NMSZ has changed since the 1811-1812 earthquakes. During that time, the central United States was sparsely populated, and now it's home to millions of people. Cities such as Jonesboro, St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, would experience catastrophic damage in the event of another major earthquake in the NMSZ. This is why it is so important for people to be as prepared as possible.
The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state's homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies. For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov.