Are Tennessee emergency officials preparing for a worst case scenario - a major earthquake? Is Tennessee, like Arkansas, a "canary in the coal mine" state? Unfortunately for Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri, they are the states most likely to be impacted by a major earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), with Memphis, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri the most severely damaged.
Read: Is Arkansas a ‘canary-in-coal mine’ state for seismic adjustments on New Madrid?
Yes, emergency officials are preparing for a major earthquake scenario in the NMSZ because scientists predict that west Tennessee could soon be faced with a huge seismic event. In fact, the USGS is so concerned about potential quakes that it is conducting low-level flights over the area, using a red and white, single-engine Cessna, equipped with instruments to measure the magnetic field of the earth and underground rock formations in the NMSZ.
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Is there really cause for alarm? You bet! Based on ground movement currently taking place in Tennessee, there is good reason to be concerned. Most of the counties west of the Tennessee River sit just above the NMSZ, and roughly one million people live in the metro-Memphis area with its aging infrastructure, which is considered by the USGS to be at greatest risk from a quake in the 7.0 or 8.0 range.
A major quake along the NMSZ could displace 7.2 million people and knock out 15 bridges, requiring the assistance of 42,000 first responders from local firefighters to the Pentagon (source).
Tennessee Emergency Management’s Jim Brassham says, “The public needs to have a personal plan so that they can take care of themselves. The Calvary may not be able to show up the next day."
Per the Zetas of Zetatalk, much has been made of an earthquake in the recent past long the New Madrid fault line. This was unexpected being in a quiescent area, and it raised all manner of questions regarding the possibility of massive earthquakes in areas presumed to be safe.
Simply put, there are no earthquake free areas, and during the coming pole shift, all parts of the globe will be subject to them, without exception.
Thus, individuals living in areas that have never experienced an earthquake should not presume safety, but should take the same steps in preparing for the pole shift that those living atop highly active fault lines take . . . stay out of old or masonry buildings and anticipate earthquakes as severe as any that mankind has ever experienced and noted.
The USGS predicts that a major quake would potentially cut the eastern US off from western US in terms of vehicular traffic and road commerce. The older highways and railroad bridges that cross the Mississippi River, as well as older overpasses, would likely be damaged or collapse in the event of a major New Madrid earthquake.
Indications of ground movement
Ground movement is not always obvious at first. Common indications to look for include: Cracks in foundation, brick, or driveway of your home; cracks in drywall, floors, walls, pavement, or decks; depressions in the ground where rain water gathers contrary to normal; slanting, slumping, or leaning fences, trees, and other objects; dead or dying vegetation in circular depressions; doors and windows that won't shut or are out of alignment; and cabinets that won't stay closed.
Ground movement in Tennessee is now being expressed in several ways: Quake swarms, sinkholes, landslides, crane collapses, loud booms, explosions, collapsing buildings, and even nuclear plant incidents. (Question: Even without major quakes, just how safe are nuclear plants?). Ground movement incidents for just this year alone include:
- Loud booms in Morristown and Seymour and collapsing land that opened a giant sinkhole in Bluff City; in 9-days, more than 50 landslides in five southeastern states, including Tennessee. Explosions numerous during this period.
- In Feb, sinkhole opens in Unicoi school yard; in April, sinkhole opens in Sango and house explodes in Memphis; in May, sinkhole opens in grocery store parking lot in Nashville and two more open in south Nashville a couple of weeks later. Also in May, construction crane collapses on car in Gallatin.
With regard to sinkholes in general, some experts worry about sinkholes forming near busy roads in Middle Tennessee (see map). Read:
Loud booms heard all over New Madrid shake zone: Connect the dots . . . please
Tennessee crane tips over on car: New normal, more than 9 collapses in 2 weeks (Photos)
Land cracks open with regularity around world Planet X earth wobble accelerates (Photos)
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has warned that a serious earthquake in the NMSZ could result in the highest economic losses due to a natural disaster in the United States, and adding to that danger are 15 nuclear power plants in the NMSZ of the same or similar design as the plant at disaster site in Japan.
Is there really cause for alarm in Tennessee? You bet! Comments below.
