Earthquake Awareness Week (February 1-5) in Mississippi

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EARTHQUAKE AWARENESS WEEK (FEBRUARY 1-5)​

Earthquake Awareness Week (February 1-5) in Mississippi

January 30, 8:36 PM

When you think of earthquakes, California usually comes to mind. But Mississippians have reason to be concerned.

Portions of the state are located along the New Madrid seismic zone, which stretches 40 miles wide and 200 miles long.

The seismic zone, which also includes parts of Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, consists of a series of complex faults that cross the Mississippi River in three places and the Ohio River in two places.

For this reason and with the Haiti Earthquake Disaster fresh in our minds, Governor Haley Barbour has declared February 1-5 Earthquake Awareness Week in the State of Mississippi.

The New Madrid is well known for a series of earthquakes between 1811 and 1812 that caused over 2,000 aftershocks in five months and five earthquakes with an estimated magnitude of 8.0 or stronger.

The series of great earthquakes near the New Madrid, Missouri area was felt in Mississippi as far south as the Gulf Coast.

The New Madrid series of quakes caused the banks of the Mississippi River to cave in as far south as Vicksburg, more than 300 miles from the epicenter.

<HR>The strongest recorded earthquake in Mississippi occurred in 1931 with a magnitude of 4.6 centered in Tallahatchie County.

Several chimneys crumbled down in Charleston, and the walls and foundation of the Agricultural High School were cracked.

Minor damage to chimneys also occurred at Tillatoba and Water Valley and several buildings were damaged slightly in Belzoni.

The earthquake was felt over a 65,000 square mile area including the northern two-thirds of Mississippi and in adjacent portions of Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

Other minor earthquakes have occurred including two earthquakes about 18 miles northeast of Greenville, Mississippi inJune 1967.

The first, on June 4, measured magnitude 3.8 on the Richter Scale and was felt over approximately 25,000 square miles.

The region affected by this tremor included the Northwest quadrant of Mississippi and parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee. A few instances of cracked plaster were reported in the epicentral region.

One resident near the epicenter reported a ground crack 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide and 39 feet long in his lawn.

On June 29th, a second earthquake occurred in the same region with a magnitude of 3.4. This earthquake was only felt in parts of Bolivar, Sunflower, and Washington Counties.

Another earthquake felt in Mississippi occurred on March 29, 1972, but this earthquake was centered further north in the New Madrid, Missouri region. No major damage was reported.

Although, Northern Mississippi has had a history of minor earthquakes in the past due to its positioning to the New Madrid Fault, earthquakes have occurred near the Gulf Coast.

On February 1, 1955, an earthquake was strongly felt by many people along a 30 mile strip of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

In Gulfport, houses shook, windows and dishes rattled, and deep rumbling sounds were heard by many.

In Biloxi, several people were alarmed when the rumbling noise of the earthquake was heard. Similar effects were noted in Pass Christian. The earthquake was also reported by many people in Bay St. Louis, where buildings creaked and loose objects and windows rattled.

The New Madrid seismic zone

<HR>Governor Haley Barbour,

We have seen up close and very recently the danger earthquakes pose.

It is extremely important that our citizens realize preparing for such an event will help protect themselves and their loved ones should a similar disaster strike.
​

Haley Barbour

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Womack,

Making sure residents and local governments are prepared is a primary responsibility of our agency.
Although these events are rare, we hope everybody still takes the threat seriously and gets a disaster plan and kit together should a strong earthquake occur.
​

Mike Womack

For more information: Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
Sources: USGS, AP News, MEMA


http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-...10m1d30-Earthquake-Awareness-Week-February-15

 

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Re: Earthquake Awareness Week (February 1-5) in Mississippi

What to Do During an Earthquake

The number of earthquakes known to have occurred within Mississippi?s boundaries is small, but the state has been affected by numerous shocks in neighboring states. The New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquake of 1811 and 1812 was felt in Mississippi as far south as the Gulf Coast and caused the banks of the Mississippi River to cave in as far as Vicksburg.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency continues to focus on programs essential to earthquake hazard reduction. The program is broad in scope and includes public awareness and education, training, preparedness, response and recovery planning, and mitigation initiatives. Federal, state, and local partnerships play an important role in accomplishing objectives of the program.

One of the main goals of MEMA?s Earthquake Program is to build the best possible working relationship with the emergency management directors of the 26 counties that may be affected by a NMSZ event.

Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshock and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.

If indoors

• DROP to the ground; take COVER under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON on until the shaking stops. If there isn't a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
• Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
• Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported doorway.
• Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
• Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
• DO NOT use the elevators.

If outdoors

• Stay there.
• Move away from buildings, streetlights and utility wires.
• Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related injuries and deaths result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a moving vehicle

• Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay inside the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses and utility wires.
• Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris

• Do not light a match or lighter.
• Do not move about or kick up dust.
• Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
• Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

To learn what items should be included in your disaster supply kit click here.

http://www.msema.org/preparation/earthquakes.html