New Madrid Seismic Zone Catastrophic Earthquake Response Planning

Cleveland, Lisa J.; Elnashai, Amr S.; Pineda, Omar

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/8787 Copy

Description

Title

New Madrid Seismic Zone Catastrophic Earthquake Response Planning

Author(s)

• Cleveland, Lisa J.
• Elnashai, Amr S.
• Pineda, Omar

Issue Date

2007-05

Keyword(s)

• MAE Center
• FEMA
• NMSZ
• Response Planning

Abstract

The New Madrid seismic zone in the Central USA has experienced some of the strongest earthquake ground motions observed nationwide. The historic series of three earthquakes during 1811 and 1812 shook this Midwest region with magnitudes around 8. The earthquakes were extensively reported. However, limited damage occurred because of the area was sparsely populated. A recurrence of the 1811 and 1812 earthquakes would cause widespread and severely impacts affecting over 45 million residents of the states surrounding the New Madrid seismic zone. A repeat of these historical events would subject the major urban center of Memphis, Tennessee to intense ground shaking while other urban centers such as St. Louis, Missouri, would experience less intense shaking. This does not indicate that St. Louis is less vulnerable, however. Though not undertaken in this report, subsequent work will include the examination of other hazard scenario within the region of interest. These scenarios will represent seismic activity in the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone of M7.1 as well as near St. Louis, Missouri, of M6.0.

Publisher

Mid-America Earthquake Center

Series/Report Name or Number

MAE Center Report 07-03

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8787

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