Tornado Record Broken in April

"294 April tornadoes in the U.S."

"Old record - 267 tornadoes in 1974.""

"on average entire month of April sees "only" 163 tornadoes."

"We exceeded that average just in the first half of the month!"

"Over 5200 severe weather reports (tornadoes, hail, and high winds/wind damage) so far in April."

"On average, only about 3300 severe weather reports are tallied in an entire April nationwide."
SOURCE

Calm Before the Storm...

The New Madrid Fault has calmed down the past week. That's would be reassuring if it didn't mean something worse was coming. The analysis from the video states that everywhere in the world is rumbling right now. Everywhere except the New Madrid Fault. When active areas in and around the USA begin to calm down, the New Madrid Fault will begin the shake hardcore.

We have the Giant, 2.4 million (or more?) participant, shake down drill coming up soon. So, I see the window for disaster being between May and the end of November. Novemer begining the 200th anniversary of the huge 1811 quakes.

A Word On Intellicast

Use the link, click overlays, select earthquakes. Viola, read 'em and weep. Check it daily.

LINK

Arkansas Update

13 quakes in 24hrs. Ranging from 2.1 - 4.0....

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/WxMap.aspx

More on Mexico...

Japan aftershock is easy to find news on. However, the Mexico quake news in scarce. Here's a short article from NPR.

HERE

7.1 Aftershock in Japan, BUT DID YOU HEAR ABOUT MEXICO!

The 7.1 aftershock has overshadowed the 6.7 in southern Mexico (outside of Mexico City). Tick tock tick tock says the geologic clock. Read up on the content with the link below.

HERE

Triangle of Life

The triangle of life refers to the triangular voids created from debris when a building collapses during an earthquake or really any other natural disaster. The idea is basically to get beside a table, not under it. Get beside furniture. Don't get in a doorway or near stairs. Both can collapse on you. If your in a city, get beside your car, not in it. This increases your chances for survival according to the linked study below.

I'm not giving advice. I'm just saying what I'm going to do. Consult a professional before making any decisions or planning about you and/or your families survival.

SOURCE

CUSEC Says

"With earthquakes an inevitable part of our future, we must act quickly to ensure that disasters do not become catastrophes. What we do now, before a big earthquake, will determine what our lives will be like afterwards. The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut in April 2011 will involve more than 1 million people through a broad-based outreach program, partnership with the media, and public advocacy by hundreds of partners. This event is being organized by CUSEC and our Member States:  Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee"

"It must involve children at school and parents at work, prompting conversations at home."

"The 2011 ShakeOut drill will be the largest earthquake preparedness event in central U.S. history. Soon, a website detailing ShakeOut drill procedures, registration, and promotion, will be ready at www.ShakeOut.org/centralus."

SOURCE - HERE

Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant

32% of New York City's power comes from a nuclear power plant that sits on a fault line.

" it would be impossible to evacuate Long Island in case of a mishap"

"found evidence of two earthquakes of about 5.2 intensity in the area in 1737 and 1884. "

" indicated quakes seemed to occur every 100 years, meaning another quake might be overdue."

" the last 300 years have indicated there has been some motion, says John Armbruster, one of the authors of the report and a seismologist."

"Recently, the International Energy Agency estimated the global demand for energy will increase 80 percent by 2035."

“In my view that demand assures that in spite of what happened in Fukushima, it will be the go-to source,” says Bryce.

SOURCE HERE

Sounds In the Grounds: The Effects and Aftermath

Agriculture will be haulted.

Rebuilding is predicted to be a 10 year process.

Yes, the earthquake/s are still considered eminent, backed by geological researchers.

"The data sets are presenting the idea that even [large amounts] of [helicopter] delivered [food/aid] will still [require/need] to be [hand carried] to get to the [isolated communities]."

"The local [systems] for everything from [health care] to [fuel delivery] will be [disrupted] for some time in excess of [3/three years] by the [alterations] in the [ground shapes] and [bridges failing]."

SOURCE - HERE

Never Any Good News About the Fault Line

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said if earthquakes strike in what geologists define as the New Madrid Seismic Zone, they would cause "the highest economic losses due to a natural disaster in the United States."

FEMA predicted a large earthquake would cause "widespread and catastrophic physical damage" across Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee -- home to some 44 million people.

Tennessee is likely to be hardest hit, according to the study that sought to gauge the impact of a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in order to guide the government's response.

In Tennessee alone, it forecast hundreds of collapsed bridges, tens of thousands of severely damaged buildings and a half a million.

SOURCE HERE

How Safe Is Your House?

"If your house was built before 1993 in Jackson or Madison County, odds are your framework is not attached to the foundation."
 
"The old building codes didn't require it; so most contractors didn't do it. The sheer weight of
 materials keeps the house in place."
 
"But that could spell trouble if a powerful earthquake strikes the New Madrid Seismic Zone. A magnitude 7 or greater earthquake could easily jolt a Jackson house off its foundation and cause major damage."

"houses in Madison County "are not built to earthquake standards."

"Scientists now believe that when a major earthquake of magnitude 7 or greater strikes again on the New Madrid fault, Jackson's older schools, office buildings and houses could sustain significant damage."

"If you crank the magnitude up to a 6 or 7 and on up ... Jackson could expect to have damage," said Jim Wilkinson, executive director of the Central United States Earthquake Consortium.
A study released by FEMA estimates that damages in Jackson and Madison County could total almost $2 billion if a magnitude 7.7 or greater earthquake strikes. Damages in Memphis and Shelby County could total close to $20 billion."

SOURCE - Jackson Sun

The Big Ones Back Then: 1,800 Quakes In 4 1/2 Months

"It was about 2 a.m. on Dec. 16, 1811, when the first of three powerful earthquakes terrified the Indians and small number of pioneers who had settled in the Reelfoot region. About 400 residents made up the town of New Madrid in Missouri territory, across the Mississippi River from what is now known as Tiptonville. The three earthquakes are believed to be the most powerful to ever occur in the United States, and they were accompanied by hundreds of smaller quakes."

"A lot of people think there were only one or two earthquakes, but there were over 1,800 earthquakes recorded in a 4 1/2 month period between Dec. 16, 1811, and March of 1812," Douglas said. "Five of those quakes were said to range from 8 to 8.7 (in magnitude). They were enormous earthquakes, some of the largest in world history."
 
"The December quake was followed by major shocks on Jan. 23, 1812, and Feb. 7, 1812. The February earthquake centered near New Madrid, Mo., is believed to be the biggest of the three, based on newspaper accounts of damage to buildings, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quakes rang church bells 1,000 miles away in Boston, cracked sidewalks in Washington, D.C., and rattled china in the Colorado Rockies."

"Research during the past 20 years has shown "that strong earthquakes in the central Mississippi Valley are not freak events but have occurred repeatedly in the geologic past." The first recorded earthquake in what is known as the New Madrid Seismic Zone occurred on Christmas Day, 1699. Since the area was sparsely populated, it is unknown how many deaths occurred during the first big quakes."
 
"There had to be fatalities (in 1811-1812), but we don't know," said David Haggard, a park ranger the past 20 years at Reelfoot Lake State Park. "It was a time in history when they didn't keep records."
 
"Researchers know that fatalities could be overwhelming when nature unleashes another round of magnitude 7 or 8 earthquakes on the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which includes metropolitan areas like Memphis and Saint Louis. It's just a matter of time."

SOURCE - JACKSON SUN

Earthquake Insurance

"It's very, very important," Milam said. "I council my policy holders to get earthquake insurance all the time, with us being near the New Madrid fault. If we have a magnitude 6 or greater earthquake, there could be some real losses here."

"Rates are higher the closer you get to the New Madrid Seismic Zone. In The Jackson Sun's circulation area, Crockett County is the closest since it borders Dyer County. Part of the New Madrid fault line reaches southeast from the Tiptonville area to Dyersburg in Dyer County."

"We advise people to get earthquake coverage, but about 50 percent don't," Hughes said. "It costs about $1.40 per $1,000 of coverage for a brick home and about $1 per $1,000 for a frame house. And there's a 5-percent deductible."
 
"So, for a $100,000 house, annual coverage costs $100 for a frame home and $140 for a brick home."

"Hughes said it is obvious that all the old buildings in the towns of Bells and Alamo would quickly crumble if a major earthquake strikes on the New Madrid fault. He said he knows of at least one building that collapsed due to daily vibrations caused by trains passing through town."

"I've only felt one tremor in my life; so it's something none of us experience, and we don't think about it," Black said. "It's hard to believe a big earthquake could really happen. But they tell us it can; so you should probably have earthquake insurance if you live in this part of the country."

SOURCE - Jackson Sun

Sums It All Up

"Much of West Tennessee is located near the New Madrid Fault, which previously was the site of an earthquake of similar magnitude some 200 years ago. Geologists are nearly unanimous that it could, and very likely will, happen again. In such an event, there would be widespread damage in West Tennessee, East Arkansas, Southwest Missouri and Western Kentucky."

"Considerable planning has been done by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and local agencies such as the Jackson-Madison County Emergency Management Agency."

"What hasn't been done, however, is the creation of a widespread public information effort to make residents aware of the possibility, the dangers and what to do in the event of a serious earthquake. The lessons we are learning from the Japan earthquake should be a warning that the public must be better informed."

"We are told that in the event of a major New Madrid quake, Jackson would become a major staging point for recovery efforts. Everything from transportation of rescuers and supplies to air traffic to supplying food and medical products and services could be staged in Jackson area facilities."

SOURCE - Jackson Sun

Preparedness movement growing

So if I'm into being prepared I'm a Mormon? Uh, no. I'm just prepared. The article subtly suggests that the exponential growth in preparedness is wacky by attaching Mormonism to it. Whatever, just take control and initiative. Be prepared. Better safe than sorry.

SOURCE

Economic Turmoil

The people of Japan have had thier way of life thrown off axis to say the least. Grocery store shelves are empty and gas is being rationed.

See HERE

If real news is on yahoo then you know it's bad.

Ask any of those people. Is it nutty to store extra food and water? I think not.

Don't wait till it's too late. Buy a little extra every time you shop. spend 10 dollars extra on food to save for an emergency. You'll be glad you did.

Quick Post

If you haven't heard, the radiation from Japan will soon be hitting the west coast of the US. If haven't secured potassium iodide then you better get some. It's sold out everywhere except ebay. You will have to pay a high mark up, but better safe than sorry. It's only your life we're talking about here.

iOSAT HERE

Radiation From Japan to Hit West Coast of USA

Looks like there's a possibilty that the radiation from the nuclear plant explosion will hit the US pretty soon. Better get some Potassium Iodide.

Latest info about Japan HERE

And Now Japan

You really should know about Japan by now even if your a TV head. So now we have:

Haiti
New Zealand
Japan

Enough Daily Quakes? Geez....

Click the link to view the daily record of Arkansas quakes.

LINK

Wake Up Call

“It has to be a repetitive message,” Honore said. “If we talked about preparedness like we talk about football, people would get the message.”
One of the biggest risks facing Memphis and the surrounding area is earthquakes. Memphis sits in the New Madrid seismic zone, which stretches from Arkansas to southern Illinois, including parts of West Tennessee, eastern Missouri, and western Kentucky."

"The probability jumps to 25 percent to 40 percent for a magnitude 6 earthquake or larger."

"In Shelby County, which includes Memphis, emergency officials talk daily about seismic monitoring and earthquake readiness, from reviewing building and construction code compliance to the best ways to respond to massive damage, said Bob Nations, director of the county’s emergency management agency."

SOURCE

WTSSC's Most Recent Data Map

West Tennessee Seismic Safety Commission's Data Map.
Look at the cluster of 3.0's and below located in Northwest TN. This is just the past 6 months and past week.

SOURCE

Guy Earthquake Swarm

"Scott Ausbrooks, geohazards supervisor for the Arkansas Geological Survey, said the quakes are part of what is now called the Guy earthquake swarm — a series of mild earthquakes that have been occurring periodically since 2009. A similar swarm occurred in the early 1980s when a series of quakes hit Enola, Ark."

"The largest quake of the Guy Earthquake Swarm was a magnitude 4.0, which occurred in October, Ausbrooks said. The region could possibly see quakes reaching as high as 5.0"

SOURCE

Earthquarkansas

700 quakes in 6 months in Arkansas

Sunday (2/27/11) 4.7 magnitude

18 minutes later a 3.7 magnitude

At 2:46 a.m. another 3.6 magnitude

Read the whole article HERE

Off the subject...

Pretty obvious increase in tornados since 1950. This is off the subject, but never-the-less, another sign of our times.

Oh, and here's a graph for the increases in Germany. Sleep tight tonight.



SOURCE HERE

Arkansas: 20 quakes in 24 hrs.

4.7 in magnitude!

SOURCE

Stacks of Facts

*According to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 500 measurable earthquakes have been recorded in central Arkansas just since September.

*A magnitude-3.8 earthquake that shook north-central Indiana on December 30th is being called "unprecedented". It was strong enough to actually cause cracks along the ground and it was felt in portions of Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and Kentucky.

*More than 3,000 red-wing blackbirds fell out of the sky dead in the Arkansas town of Beebe on New Year's Eve.

*Large numbers of dead birds were also found in Kentucky right around Christmas.

*Approximately 500 dead blackbirds and starlings were also recently discovered in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.

*Approximately 100,000 fish washed up dead on the shores of the Arkansas River just last week.
So could all of these things have some other very simple explanation?

Possibly.

But the fact that they all happened in or around the New Madrid fault zone is starting to raise some eyebrows.

According to a recent study by the University of Illinois, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake along the New Madrid fault would leave 3,500 people dead, more than 80,000 injured and more than 7 million homeless.

So what would happen if an 8.0 earthquake struck?

Or an 8.5?

Or a 9.0?

Remember, an 8.7-magnitude earthquake would be ten times worse than a 7.7-magnitude earthquake.

Jeremy Heidt of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency says that life in the region would be instantly transformed in the event of a major earthquake along the New Madrid fault....

"All communications would be out. All air travel would be out as the FAA air control would go down. All rail travel would fail. Ports would shut down; oil and natural gas pipelines could be off line."

Read the full article HERE

The Math

24 hours / day
8   hours / work day or 1/3 of the day

That's a 33% chance of a quake during your work day. I can't live with those odds simple because of irony. As irony would have it, the quake would come in the middle of work day. So, always keep a "go" bag packed away in your car.

Never Here Right?

Haiti 2010
New Zealand 2011
But nothing bad would ever happen here though, right?

Huffington Post's Coverage

Bird Deaths Related To The Fault Line?

Birds, magnetic field, earthquake activity, is it all related? Is it a sign in the heavans for what is coming below? Bird and animal deaths have been found all up and down the fault line. So, it looks like a possibility.

Full article HERE

Jackson To Be Staging Area for Memphis Evacuees

Jackson has been designated, by both state and federal agencies, as the primary staging area to help rescue and restore Memphis and provide sanctuary for its people, assuming we are not significantly damaged.
 
Already designated as emergency shelters are: Oman Arena, Carl Perkins Civic Center, West Jackson Baptist Church, East Union Baptist Church, Malesus Community Center, Jackson Fairgrounds Park and every public school building.
 
Depending on the weather, tent cities could be established at Pringles Park and other athletic fields that are surrounded by fences, which would limit access and improve security.

Even then, Clements knows Jackson can't handle 10,000 evacuees for an extended period.

Full article HERE

Nashville Preps for Earthquake Readiness

TEMA is busy in Nashville readying supplies and preping for a major earthquake drill (11/29/10).

Full article HERE

Jackson Sun reports on Possible Earthquake

If the news media admits a 40 - 50% chance of activity then what must the reality actually be?

Read the full article HERE