China quake should wake up U.S.

[babylonsister]

China quake should wake up U.S.
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Posted May 13, 2008 12:35 PM

The Swamp

by Frank James

Watch video at link~

As we view the images of the aftermath of the earthquake in China's Sichuan Province and the reports of an estimated 12,000 dead, it's impossible to escape the sense that not only could it happen here but it will.

And it's not just California that we should be concerned about. While the Golden State obviously has had the most experience with earthquakes because of the very active San Andreas Fault, which is overdue for the Big One, the Midwest is at risk too.

That's largely because of the New Madrid Fault, although that quake zone isn't the only one in the central part of the country to worry about. It was the Wabash Valley Fault, after all, that caused an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter Scale in Southern Illinois.

The combination of April's Midwest earthquake and this week's calamity in Sichuan Province should remind federal, state and local officials, as well as individuals themselves, to do more to prepare for and respond to the inevitable earth shaking that most scientists say is only a matter of time.

Even before the devastating China earthquake FEMA, which since Hurricane Katrina has been working, with some success, on a self-improvement plan, was working with states in the New Madrid region on response plans to a major earthquake. They've been holding workshops, working towards the ultimate goal of a a full-scale, mock earthquake exercise in fiscal year 2011.

Given the importance of the situation, that seems a little far off. Maybe the Sichaun quake will get officials to move that up a bit.

What many people don't realize is that a large 7.8 or more quake in the Midwest could be substantially more destructive than the San Andreas since, scientists say, the energy from such a quake would travel farther than a West Coast quake because of the older, colder earth crust in the eastern part of the country.

more...

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/05/china_quake_should_wakeup_us.html#more

[Warpy]

1. Our government will have to be purged of all GOP appointees

and most of the new hires over the past 8 years before it starts giving a shit about we the people.

[roguevalley]

13. the good friday earthquake up here lasted about five and a half

minutes. a friend of mine in a car said it was like riding huge swells out on a stormy ocean. everything liquified and people were never found. God help anyone who has that happen to them. My heart is with the people in china.

[Warpy]

14. Mine, too

The only reasonably strong one I felt in Boston felt like the building was doing a slow hula. There was a lot of creaking and banging, but no damage. The only one that was close enough to feel here in NM was so mild that I was the only one who noticed it at my workplace.

The cell phone film of the poor guy hiding under the desk (BBC) told it all. This one went on for a very long time and stuff was flying everywhere.

I can't imagine going through one that strong, that shallow, and lasting that long.

[fed-up]

2. below is a link to a thread w/some earthquake preparedness links 72hours dot org is best

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3272531

[caligirl]

3. Its the Hayward fault- Milpitas to north of Berkeley that is overdue.

[fed-up]

4. the Hayward Fault lies underneath the hospitals and UC Berkeley stadium...nt

[caligirl]

7. yep, we sold our house in Fremont, less than a half mile up hill from it

I think they are now extending the BART through that area off Washington Blvd. Not sure, lots of construction in that area on the road.

[gateley]

5. There's a saying that earthquakes don't kill people,

buildings kill people. That sure seems to be the case looking at the photos from China.

I know in Seattle most buildings are designed with the knowledge it's earthquake country. Even the Space Needle is considered to be a pretty safe place to be during a quake.

[rhett o rick]

6. Sorry, don't think anything will "wake up the US". Call me a pessimist but

remember in 2004 half of the voters of the US voted for the reelection of a war criminal.

[Duppers]

10. I agree. Most reside happily in the state of denial on this issue

and many other issues, obviously.

[truedelphi]

8. The Midwest is mostly buildings of brick and mortar construction

Keeps you warmer in the winter, but is the exact wrong type of building to have in the event of earthquakes.

[LuckyLib]

9. When the "Big One" hits CA, will the Feds be ready or will it be a NO "Let them eat cake" response?

I thought so. Much more political, social, and economic power in that state.

[Thothmes]

17. How prepared is the Government of theState of California

to deal with such an earthquake.

[slackmaster]

18. Better than the Midwest states are

But many people here, like me, are not expecting any kind of government assistance for up to several days. If you plan on being rescued, you haven't been paying attention.

[Thothmes]

24. I live in Tidewater Virginia

We have been hit by several hurricanes in the 20 years (none as bad as Katrina) that I have lived here. My survival plan involves never relying on any Government agency for any assistance for up to ten days. This plan has served me and my family very well to date.

[slackmaster]

20. Don't forget about all of our military bases

We have way more than most states do.

[KamaAina]

11. Gulf Coast hurricane should wake up U.S.

oops, looks like that ship already sailed :eyes:

[starroute]

12. The 1811 New Madrid quake rang the church bells in Boston

http://quake.usgs.gov/prepare/factsheets/NewMadrid/

Survivors reported that the earthquakes caused cracks to open in the earth's surface, the ground to roll in visible waves, and large areas of land to sink or rise. The crew of the New Orleans (the first steamboat on the Mississippi, which was on her maiden voyage) reported mooring to an island only to awake in the morning and find that the island had disappeared below the waters of the Mississippi River. Damage was reported as far away as Charleston, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C.

These dramatic accounts clearly show that destructive earthquakes do not happen only in the western United States. In the past 20 years, scientists have learned that strong earthquakes in the central Mississippi Valley are not freak events but have occurred repeatedly in the geologic past. The area of major earthquake activity also has frequent minor shocks and is known as the New Madrid seismic zone.

Earthquakes in the central or eastern United States affect much larger areas than earthquakes of similar magnitude in the western United States. For example, the San Francisco, California, earthquake of 1906 (magnitude 7.8) was felt 350 miles away in the middle of Nevada, whereas the New Madrid earthquake of December 1811 (magnitude 8.0) rang church bells in Boston, Massachusetts, 1,000 miles away.

[rhett o rick]

15. Don't forget the Pacific NW. We always are forgotten. Big fault under Seattle. nm

[slackmaster]

19. Not to mention a major volcano hazard

[malaise]

16. This should wake up Bush

This is what is expected of leaders
http://www.cctv.com/english/special/earthquake/01/index.shtml

[uppityperson]

21. I was thinking along these lines today. And what if there is another big disaster soon?

Tornadoes, cyclones, earthquakes, hurricane season getting close if not here, etc etc etc. Hearing the White house yappers talking about needing to send military to help in China and/or Burma, but they are stretched so thin anyways, what if something else happens.

Along with just general emergency preparedness.

[dgibby]

22. Don't forget the East Coast

Large quake leveled Charleston,SC in the 1800's. I've had quake insurance ever since I found out I lived about 1/2mi from "Fault Line Rd"! Yikes!!!

[friendly_iconoclast]

23. Boston is at high risk as well

A repeat of the Cape Ann earthquake (Richter 6+, 1760's) would result in major
ground liquification in and around Boston and the damage and casualty count could
be quite severe.