Tagged: Earthquake

State and local emergency officials in Tennessee are holding a drill this week to test their response to a catastrophic earthquake.

The Paducah City Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday supporting the reevaluation of western Kentucky's status on the National Seismic Hazard Map. The map currently rates the area's propensity for earthquakes as high as Los Angeles or San Francisco. However, Zhenming Wang and James Cobb of the University of Kentucky have been reviewing the methodology used to create the map. Their new methods could lower western Kentucky's seismic risk.

Some area residents may have felt a rumble this morning as US Geological Service officials say a magnitude 4 earthquake took place in Southeast Missouri. Reports say the quake started around four o’clock this morning, about 5 miles north of East Prarie, Missouri. The epicenter was around 3 miles deep. There are no reports of damage at this time.

Tomorrow is the 200th anniversary of the last of the big New Madrid earthquakes that occurred from 1811 through 1812.  To mark the date, emergency management officials are holding their second annual large-scale earthquake drill.  Kentucky and Indiana are among 9 states that are directly taking part in the Great Central U.S. Shakeout.   Kentucky's Earthquake Program Manager, David Davis, says there are two reasons for the exercise. He says,