New Madrid Earthquake
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The New Madrid Earthquake, the largest earthquake ever recorded in the continental United States, occurred on February 7, 1812. It derived its name from its primary location in the New Madrid Seismic Zone near New Madrid, Missouri. This earthquake was preceded by three other major quakes: two earthquakes on December 16, 1811, and one on January 23, 1812.
Based on the effects of these earthquakes, it can be estimated that they had a magnitude of 8.0 or higher on the not-yet-invented Richter scale. As a result of the quakes, large areas sank into the earth, new lakes were formed (notably Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee), and the Mississippi River changed its course. Church bells rang in Boston, Massachusetts. Since the area was less developed at the time, damage was minor compared to what would happen today.
A request dated January 13, 1814 by William Clark, the territorial governor, asked for federal relief for the "inhabitants of New Madrid County". This was possibly the first example of a request for disaster relief, which would later become the job of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
See also
References
- United States Geological Survey (October 15, 2003). "USGS Earthquake Hazards Program: 1811 - 1812 Earthquakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone" (http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/usa/1811-1812.html). Retrieved 3 May 2005.
External links
- USGS Earthquake Hazards Program: New Madrid Seismic Zone (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/bytopic/new_madrid.html)