By Angela Hatton
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-897325.mp3
Murray, KY – Western Kentucky emergency response teams are preparing for the worst. Officials met yesterday in Murray to kickoff an "active planning" earthquake initiative. State Emergency Management Director John Heltzel says while the ice storm was a catastrophe for Kentucky, an earthquake along the New Madrid faultline would be catastrophic for the entire nation.
"The vast majority of the gas supply. Not gasoline, but gas, supply, for the entire eastern side of the United States, happens to travel up through the western 24 counties of Kentucky. Those are gonna break."
A model from the Mid-America Earthquake Center also predicts widespread damage to western Kentucky buildings because of the region's soft soil. Ninety-nine percent would be residential. Heltzel expects damage to levies and the area's 3,000 bridges, however the dams at Kentucky and Barkley Lakes would likely hold. Counties plan to practice their earthquake response at a series of exercises next May.