As earthquakes continue to occur on a daily basis in the central U.S., CUSEC and emergency management officials in Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri remind citizens and communities about the earthquake risk by designating February as Earthquake Awareness Month.
The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) is also working to promote earthquake preparedness among its residents. ADEM is observing Earthquake Awareness Week from February 8-14, and will offer several training opportunities. These include ATC-20 Post-Earthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings training (in Russellville, Pine Bluff, and Jacksonville) and a FEMA P-767 Hospital Mitigation Training in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will observe Earthquake Awareness Month by hosting various activities throughout the State. Missouri has one of the longest-standing Earthquake Awareness Month programs in the Nation. Activities planned for the month include Missouri Seismic Safety Commission Meetings, S.A.V.E. Coalition Building Inspector Trainings, Safety and Preparedness Fairs, and more.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is also designating February as Earthquake Awareness Month, reminding citizens to take measures to prepare and mitigate against earthquakes before the next big one strikes.
While scientists say that there is only a 7-10% probability of a re-occurrence of the 1811-12 earthquakes within any 50-year window, they also estimate that there is a 25-40% probability of a M6.0 or greater earthquake occurring in the central U.S. within the same period of time. About 200 earthquakes occur in the central U.S. every year-many of which go unnoticed. And while the primary focus remains on the NMSZ, it is not our only area of concern. Earthquakes are also occurring along the Wabash Valley and East Tennessee Seismic Zones and in Oklahoma, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas.
