By Kate Miller, Record Managing Editor
When it comes to emergency response, first responders approach training with this mantra: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.In Warren County, and across the state, emergency management teams often respond to extreme weather emergencies, vehicle accidents, flooding and tornadoes. The worst scenario for Missourians, though, could be an earthquake coming from the New Madrid fault zone. The New Madrid is 120 miles long and crosses five states. It’s located near the boot heel.“It’s one of the most dangerous faults in the country. On a day-to-day basis, there are multiple shocks but you can barely feel them, or not feel them at all,” said Mike Daniels, director of the Warren County Emergency Management Agency. “They’re saying we’re due, but nobody really knows. We don’t have the technology for advanced warning.”Missouri is one of 14 states that could be impacted by a New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquake. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources reports that some scientists believe there’s a 10 percent chance that if it hits, it could be an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 to 8.0.While those odds are small, they exist. Daniels said that’s why Warren County signed up for the 2018 Great Central U. S. “ShakeOut” earthquake drill set for 10:18 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18.The ShakeOut drill reminds people that they live in an active seismic zone and what to do if an earthquake happens.“It’s important for Missourians to participate in the ShakeOut drill,” State Emergency Management Agency Director Ernie Rhodes said. “Their safety is our priority and earthquakes occur without warning. It’s essential that people know what to do immediately as an earthquake hits, and that means learning to drop, cover, and hold on.”“Drop, Cover, Hold On,” the agency says, is the best way to avoid injury during an earthquake. During the ShakeOut earthquake drill, participants should practice dropping on their hands and knees, covering their heads and necks with their hands and arms, under a table ofrdesk; and holding on until the shaking stops.Daniels said the drill is a good time to consider what to do after an earthquake.Parts of the country have felt big shakes from the New Madrid Seismic Zone before. The 1968 Illinois earthquake is considered a New Madrid event. It had a magnitude 5.5. It was felt for miles but, luckily, the damage was minor.The New Madrid produced its biggest shocks with three earthquakes from Dec. 16, 1811, to Feb. 7, 1812. They were between 7.2 and 8.0 in magnitude and are still known as the largest earthquakes to ever hit the continental United States.Daniels said emergency management agencies predict that if similar earthquakes were to happen in modern times, it would be catastrophic. It would be felt in the region and several states. It would affect almost everything from communications, travel and emergency response times, to cash flow and proof of identity.He said preparation is key. He recommends drills, having an emergency kit ready to go and keeping important documents safe. Some people might choose to make copies and keep them at a different location.Daniels added that if the worst were to happen, first responders will be overwhelmed. People should be prepared to take care of themselves, their families and their neighbors for at least a few days. Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) training can help with that.Daniels said if everyone is prepared to handle the worst emergency, smaller emergencies will be easier to handle.Individuals, families and groups register for ShakeOut. To sign up visit www.shakeout.org/centralus. Once registered, participants receive regular updates on the drill, as well as information on earthquake preparedness and safety. The ShakeOut website offers manuals, videos, audio drill broadcasts and earthquake scenarios. For more information about emergency preparedness, visit www.sema.dps.mo.gov.
This map from the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency indicates the severity of damage that would be done in different regions across the state during a large earthquake from the New Madrid Seismic Zone in southeast Missouri.
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