This is the fault that would have quite possibly devastating results for us here in Kentucky. We studied about this fault in school when I was a little boy in school in St. Louis.

The New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), also known as the New Madrid fault line, is a major area of seismic activity located in the Midwestern and Southern United States, particularly in southeastern Missouri, northeastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, western Kentucky, and southern Illinois. It is the most active seismic area east of the Rocky Mountains. The NMSZ is known for the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes, a series of very large earthquakes that caused significant damage and changes to the Mississippi River. About 200 shocks are detected annually in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (or Central United States Seismic Zone). Earthquakes in this zone have the potential to cause damage in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.

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Although not recorded by modern instruments, a sequence of earthquakes that occurred near New Madrid in 1811-1812 included three of the most intense ever to occur on this continent. They are believed to have been magnitude 7.0 to 8.0. The New Madrid quakes were followed by aftershocks that continued more than two years. More than 2,000 shocks were felt at least 180 miles away from their epicenters.

Eyewitnesses of the New Madrid earthquakes said, “The surface of the earth rose and fell like the long, low swell of the sea, tilting the trees until their branches interlocked, and opening the soil in deep cracks ... landslides swept down the steeper bluffs and hillsides; considerable areas were uplifted, and still larger areas sunk and became covered with water emerging through fissures ... high banks [of the Mississippi] caved and were precipitated into the river; sand bars and points of islands gave way, and whole islands disappeared.”

New lakes, islands, and streams appeared, and much of the topography of the southeastern corner of Missouri was changed completely. Within three months, the three largest quakes caused vast destruction, distorted lines of sight and level, and flung objects into the air. They were felt throughout 2.5 million square miles and rang church bells in Washington, D.C.

 

I feel like the New Madrid fault has been "due for the Big One" since I've been a kid. 

I guess it may eventually happen.

I do remember an earthquake that happened several years ago, somewhere between like 2005 and 2010. It was in the early morning hours, woke me up from my sleep. I thought it was just a big truck going down the street, but then I realized what it was. I turned on the TV and the reporter on the news was looking around like he felt it too. 

I read this book several years ago about the earthquake in 1811-12. It was a really good mix of the science, history, and personal understandings (or lack thereof) of what was happening. It's probably at your local library.

1 hour ago, TheDeuce said:

I do remember an earthquake that happened several years ago, somewhere between like 2005 and 2010. It was in the early morning hours, woke me up from my sleep. I thought it was just a big truck going down the street, but then I realized what it was. I turned on the TV and the reporter on the news was looking around like he felt it too. 

I remember one a little later than that, around 2012 or 2013. I was working in downtown Cincinnati on the 17th floor of the Enquirer building, and we suddenly felt the building moving. It was subtle, but very noticeable. We all looked at each other like "did that just happen or am I imagining something happened". We then started hearing the reports of an earthquake. It was pretty widespread, as I had friends on the east coast that felt it too.

I remember when I was in HS, I think it was 1988, there were all kinds of Nostredamous like predictions that the New Madrid was going to have a massive quake.  Still waiting 37 years later.   I guess it's bound to happen at somepoint and someone will say "See, I told ya!"

I was in one small earthquake when I was in St. Louis many years ago. I don't want to be in another one. It was really like a tremor, but when you were a little boy and the ground was moving like that, it was scary. 

15 hours ago, gchs_uk9 said:

I read this book several years ago about the earthquake in 1811-12. It was a really good mix of the science, history, and personal understandings (or lack thereof) of what was happening. It's probably at your local library.

I think this was the book they used to teach us in elementary school in St. Louis.