Let's set aside the recent Californian, Haitian, Chinese and Peruvian quakes for a moment. Let's remember instead in the mind's eye the New Madrid sequence of four massive convulsions occurring between 1811 and 1812.
These earthquakes spurred Tecumseh and his brother "The Prophet" to galvanize tribal resistance against American settlements just prior to and during the War of 1812; while incidentally, the strongest shakings were felt as far as the budding cities on the East Coast. And New Madrid (which is pronounced New MADD-drid in the States, as opposed to old Madrid in Spain) can blow again at any moment -- just like in Haiti, China, or anywhere else there's a quake zone.
Check out this impact zone and imagine the terrible possibilities.
For much more, see Jay Feldman's When the Mississippi Ran Backwards : Empire, Intrigue, Murder, and the New Madrid Earthquakes (2005).
Today's Rune: Separation (Reversed).
5 comments:
I've thought about this, or tried not to think about it for a very long time now, since my home country is right close to the central place where the most damage could occur. Scary stuff.
In my life time there was I remember a shaking here in Detroit. Never felt it but I remember the reports of it. must have been around '66 or so. If I remember correctly the epicenter was St. Louis.
I don't know why everyone who has never felt a quake would think they 3wre safe from one if they know that the entire mantle of the earth is made of tectonic plates which do move.
Scary indeed, but maybe not so much as the destruction crazed, malicious humans might be able to accomplish "using technology". And dude it was Chile, not Peru.
-JC
wow.
This series of earthquakes has been very unsettling. And living in the zone, I'm well aware of the New Madrid fault.
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