By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — After southern California shook from the power of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake weeks ago, emergency preparedness agencies throughout the nation – particularly in regions with proximity to known seismic zones – began warning residents about possible seismic activity outside the Golden State, including right here in the Corn Belt. The event served as a stark reminder that earthquakes can happen anywhere in the world and at any time of the day, according to Alicia Tate-Nadeau, acting director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). She pointed out that Illinois is flanked on its western and eastern borders by two active seismic zones: the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone, respectively. An earthquake similar to what was experienced in California this month could have devastating effects on Illinois and neighboring states, she explained. “Creating an environment of education, awareness, and preparedness will save lives in Illinois,” according to Tate-Nadeau. “While we cannot predict when the next major quake will occur, we can help people learn how to protect themselves and reduce damage to their homes.” To that end, the IEMA has adopted “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” as a public awareness campaign slogan for earthquake safety. The phrase reminds people to drop down to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk or other solid object, and be prepared to hold onto that object until after the temblor passes. The IEMA has also issued a set of safety procedures residents can employ to help prevent or minimize injuries and property damage from earthquakes, including: •Strapping water heaters and large appliances to wall studs •Anchoring overhead light fixtures •Fastening shelves to wall studs and securing cabinet doors with latches •Strapping televisions, computers, and other heavy equipment to prevent tipping •Learning how to shut off gas, water, and electricity to your home IEMA is also leading an initiative to register homes, businesses, schools, and organizations in the World’s Largest Earthquake Drill, which will take place on Oct. 17 at a time easy to remember: 10:17 a.m. In addition, the agency is posting earthquake safety tips on the ReadyIllinois Facebook and Twitter pages. While some might think the chances for a significant temblor to strike Illinois and the Midwest remote at best, history paints another picture. According to the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS), earthquakes occur in Illinois about once a year. The historical record begins in 1795, when a mild earthquake was felt near Fort Kaskaskia on the Mississippi River in southwestern Illinois. The largest earthquake ever recorded in Illinois occurred on Nov. 9, 1968, and measured 5.4 on the Richter scale. The earthquake, one of the most widely felt in U.S. history, reportedly shook office buildings in downtown Chicago, but spared human lives. In 1987, a 5.0 quake struck near Olney in southeastern Illinois, inflicting moderate structural damage. And in September 1999, what many Dixon residents mistook for quarry blasts was actually a 3.5 earthquake that rattled the ground and shook cabinets, according to the ISGS. More alarming, seismologists predicted in 2005 that there is a 90 percent likelihood of a magnitude 6.0-7.0 earthquake originating from the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone on the Illinois-Indiana border, or the New Madrid fault zone, by the year 2055. This is where the famous 1968 earthquake epicenter was located, slightly northwest of Broughton in Hamilton County, Ill., seismologists estimated at the time. |
