There was an earthquake just now

[Monster104]

It was mild where it hit at my house (San Fernando Valley in CA). I don’t know where it was or how strong it was, but it sure was a good thrill!

[Crunchy_Frog]

I’ll post to yours, Monster, since the other two threads on the subject have replies, I didn’t want you feeling left out.

[Monster104]

Thanks buddy!

[Silver_Fire]

Crunchy Frog, you are so sweeeeet!!!

So, can we have one of those at Dopetoberfest, too? I’ve never felt an earthquake before.

[Mauvaise]

*Originally posted by Silver Fire *
So, can we have one of those at Dopetoberfest, too? I’ve never felt an earthquake before. **

Since I’ll be there, chances are good for an earthquake. But it might be bigger than you bargined for as I tend to attract the big ones.

I was in LA in '71, Oakland in '89, and back in LA for the '94. I’m afraid to go to Mexico, India or Japan.

[Crunchy_Frog]

Ok, thanks for the heads up Mauvaise. Your name is now scratched off the list of invitees to the next St Louis Dopefest. Nothing personal, but I wouldn’t want to speed anything up. The New Madrid fault hasn’t had a nasty quake since 1895. And the word is we’re due for antoher one soon.

This site says:

The highest earthquake risk in the United States outside the West Coast is along the New Madrid Fault. Damaging temblors are not as frequent as in California, but when they do occur, the destruction covers over more than 20 times the area because of underlying geology.
A damaging earthquake in this area (6.0 or greater) occurs about every 80 years (the last one in 1895). There is a 50% chance of such a quake by the year 2000. The results would be serious damage to schools and masonry buildings from Memphis to St. Louis.

A major earthquake in this area (7.5 or greater) happens every 200-300 years (the last one in 1812). There is a 10% chance of such a disaster by the year 2000 and a 25% chance by 2040. A New Madrid Fault rupture this size would be felt throughout half the United States and damage expected in 20 states or more. Missouri alone could anticipate losses of at least $6 billion from such an event.

And although most St. Louisans I know have heard the story of the time the quakes were so bad the Mississippi flowed in the opposite direction for 3 days, here’s a scary tidbit that they never taught us in school:

The Great New Madrid Earthquake of 1811-12 was actually a series of over 2000 shocks in five months, five of which were 8.0 or more in magnitude. Eighteen of these rang church bells on the Eastern seaboard. The very land itself was destroyed in the Missouri Bootheel, making it unfit for farming for many years. It was the largest burst of seismic energy east of the Rocky Mountains in the history of the U.S. and was several times larger than the San Francisco quake of 1905.

Woo-hoo, Gotta love St. Louis. Tornadoes, flooding, and possible state-destroying earthquakes. At least we don’t have to worry about hurricanes.

[Rilchiam]

Hi, Monster!

Crunchy Frog: The mighty Mississip’ flowed backwards? How did that work?

[Crunchy_Frog]

*Originally posted by Rilchiam *
**Crunchy Frog: The mighty Mississip’ flowed backwards? How did that work? **

I did say it was a story known around here. I wouldn’t go so far as calling it an actual fact, since I’ve never seen it in a textbook. When I went through school, in our district we had to take a Missouri History class. The earthquakes of 1812 and 1895 were covered and that’s when most people hear the story of the Mississippi flowing backwards (I also seem to connect that story in my head to the year 1903, but have yet to find correlation of that year with an earthquake along the New Madrid fault.)

I’m just surprised that they would warn us of the earthquakes and teach us earthquake drills, but leave out the actual power that this fault has when it decides to go ape on us. I knew we’ve been expecting a big one around here for the last 10 years or so, but the thought that it could impact 20 states and do $6 billion in damage to Missouri alone is nowhere near on the scale I envisioned.

[Crunchy_Frog]

And the more I look for a site about the fabled backward-flowing river, the more I’m convinced it’s a crock (I hadn’t thought of that story for years, or I would’ve tried to verify sooner).

I did find this picture which shows what areas were affected in 1895, taken from this site.

From the same site, this pic shows the location of quakes along the New Madrid fault since 1974.

But so far, nothing about a quake in 1903 (didn’t we have the World’s Fair in St. Louis in 1903? Maybe that’s way that number is stuck in my head) and nothing about a backwards flowing river. It’s looking more and more like a localized UL.

[Crunchy_Frog]

Ok, Rilchiam, I think I found something.

Here’s a site that gives a possible explanation for the story of the Mississippi flowing backwards, and says it most likely happened during the 1811-12 quakes.

It was strong enough to ring church bells in Boston, and the few inhabitants of New Madrid and Caruthersville, Missouri, reported that the earth rolled in waves like the sea and the river flowed upstream. In fact, boats were found on the river banks forty miles upstream of where they had been moored. Most likely the river flowed north for a short time as it rushed to fill a depression that formed to the east of the Mississippi that was nearly 100 miles long, six miles wide and 10 to 50 feet deep. Today Reelfoot lake is located in the lowest portion of this depression.

Here’s another site that backs up the story of the river flowing backwards.

In some areas, land rose or subsided as much as 20 feet, and small waterfalls or rapids were observed on the Mississippi River, causing part of the river to flow backwards for a short time.

So maybe the story has some basis in fact, water rushing to fill a depression giving the illusion that the river was flowing the wrong direction, and has been exaggerated over time.

Sorry for the hijack everyone, but my curiosity on the matter is now fulfilled and I thought I’d share.

[Shayna]

Fascinating earthquake facts about the New Madrid fault, Crunchy. I recall feeling several quakes over the years I was living in St. Louis - one of which made my bed bounce across my hardwood floors and end up more than a foot away from the wall.

I don’t remember ever hearing the legend of the Mississippi flowing backwards, though. And FYI, the World’s Fair in St. Louis was in 1904.

P.S. I’ll be home over Thanksgiving weekend and Spiny Norman will be joining me. Perhaps we could try to have a little gathering sometime that weekend. It’d be great to see you again!

---

I really appreciate your consideration in avoiding stepping on my penis - Spiny Norman
Jeg elsker dig, Thomas
[sub][sup]Join Team Straight Dope in the fight against cancer![/sup][/sub]

[galen_ubal]

Now that reminds me…in about 1986 or 1987 there was a very small earthquake in central Illinois. It was barely noticeable - at the time, I’d looked out the window to see if a train was going by.

[Rilchiam]

Thank you, Crunchy!

[Crunchy_Frog]

No problem Rilchiam, sorry for going on about the New Madrid fault, but looking for info just got me interested, and then I wanted to know if that story was really true or not. It’s one of those things I grew up hearing and never really thought about it much. I hadn’t even related the story in years until today.

*Originally posted by Shayna *
I recall feeling several quakes over the years I was living in St. Louis - one of which made my bed bounce across my hardwood floors and end up more than a foot away from the wall.

I only remember feeling one earthquake up in North County, in December of 1990, I think it was. I know it was my senior year in high school and I was in Journalism class when it happened. Minor tremor, nothing serious.

The only other quake I felt was while visiting my grandpa. I didn’t know what it was at first, until my uncle insisted I stand in the doorway. I don’t remember when this happened, but I’m guessing late 80s. I know I was in high school, but I don’t think I was a senior.

**

I don’t remember ever hearing the legend of the Mississippi flowing backwards, though.**

Well, we did go to different high schools.

Maybe it’s a North County thing?

And FYI, the World’s Fair in St. Louis was in 1904.

Ok, so what the hell happened in 1903 that’s got that number stuck in my head? I’m off to visit Mr. Google again, it seems…

**

P.S. I’ll be home over Thanksgiving weekend and Spiny Norman will be joining me. Perhaps we could try to have a little gathering sometime that weekend. It’d be great to see you again!**

My work schedule isn’t planned out that far in advance, so I don’t know when I’ll be free. But I’m sure we could work something out.

[rocking_chair]

wow, i heard on the news that they are thinking the earthquake in la might be a foreshock. hhhhmmm.

crunchy frog there is a book call 8.4 maybe 8.5 about what an earthquake on the new madrid fault would do. it was good reading for fiction. i know i have it around here somewhere. want it?