The New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811/1812 in Missouri:

Just a reminder that NONE of us are immune to natural disasters regardless of where we live:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1812_New_Madrid_earthquake

Effects

From the historical record, it has been estimated that at least one of them may have had a magnitude of 8.0 on the Moment Magnitude scale, though the numbers vary, because of such things as differences in models of seismic wave propagation in the Eastern US as well as different interpretations of epicenter locations.

There were numerous effects on the landscape in the most heavily affected area, a stream was impounded to form Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee, and the Mississippi River changed its course, creating a geographic exclaves, including Kentucky Bend, along the state boundaries defined by the river.

Some sections of the Mississippi River appeared to run backward for a short time. Sand blows were common throughout the area, and can still be seen from the air in cultivated fields. Church bells were reported to ring as far as Boston, Massachusetts and York, Ontario (now Toronto) and sidewalks were reported to have been cracked and broken in Washington, D.C.<5> There were also reports of toppled chimneys in Maine.

...

Recent earthquakes

4000 earthquake reports since 1974The zone remains active today. In recent decades minor earthquakes have continued.<5> New forecasts estimate a 7 to 10 percent chance, in the next 50 years, of a repeat of a major earthquake like those that occurred in 1811-1812, which likely had magnitudes of between 7.5 and 8.0. There is a 25 to 40 percent chance, in a 50-year time span, of a magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquake.<6>

Understanding of this earthquake zone is growing slowly in comparison to awareness of the San Andreas fault.


Earthquake preparedness

The situation is more precarious than it was in 1811. The area is more densely populated, and many buildings have no earthquake resistant construction.

Active research in the region continues, with a goal of defining the risk of future earthquakes. A few emergency funds for earthquake victims have been founded. Measures are also being ordered to mitigate any natural disaster resulting from an earthquake; thus in the construction of dams, bridges, and highways, earthquake safety is particularly being taken into account.

She lived in an old house on side of a hill. It made me uneasy.

Where I live the New Madrid fault system runs under my feet.

We had a small quake yesterday (3.2) in Summerville, SC (near Charleston).

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the day The Great Quake of 1886 (7.3) that partially leveled Charleston and Summerville struck.

That quake was the strongest to ever hit the South. The epicenter of the quake was centered on 2 fault lines on either side of Summerville. These fault lines are the most active east of the Mississippi.

I live between the fault lines, so generally feel most of the 2.8 and above quakes.

More at link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1886_Charleston_earthquake

Virginia has recently seen an increase of small quakes, as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Seismic_Zone

Alternately you are posting from the year 1989...

:D

Quake hit in 1886. I edited the original post. Hope it makes more sense.

:D

I'd say I was reliving my childhood, but I was 3 years away from being eligible to retire from the Navy in 1989!:rofl:

More photos:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/events/1886_09_01_pics.php

so i get alerts (along with the screen quaking) for worldwide quakes and every so often oklahoma gets one that i happen to see. most recent right now is 2.5 fox islands, aleutian islands.

visit Reelfoot Lake. It's not some little lake barely bigger than a pond...it's huge, about 15,000 acres.

When the Mississippi Ran Backward: Empire, Intrigue, Murder and the New Madrid Earthquakes by Jay Feldman.

People lost entire farms and the government gave them grants of other land.