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“I think most people are aware that earthquakes can occur here, but they just can’t remember the last time one shook them,” said Gary Patterson, a geologist with the Center for Earthquake Research and Information in Memphis. “You take the same magnitude earthquake, put one in California, one here. The one here is going to effect ten to twenty times larger an area. That’s incredible…We know that the earthquakes of 1811, 1812 were felt 1,000 to 1,200 miles away.”
The 1812 quake was actually the third and final act in a trilogy of mega-quakes. The final earthquake had its epicenter in New Madrid, Missouri, a tiny town along the Mississippi River that inspired the name for the notorious fault line. Accounts of the 1812 quake vary since there were no measuring instruments at the time, but most geologists say evidence shows it was at least a magnitude 8 earthquake, and possibly a 9 or higher. The shaking was so intense that church bells started ringing as far away as Boston and New York. Chimneys toppled from the Deep South to Canada, and President James Madison was awoken by the violent shaking as he slept in the White House. Eyewitnesses said it even caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards for a time. Read more and watch video.
Are You Ready for Severe Winter Weather
Research by the Highways Agency shows that 49 per cent of drivers ignore severe weather warnings, while 29 per cent of drivers do not prepare their vehicle for winter – potentially putting themselves and others at risk.
Roads Minister Stephen Hammond said: “Drivers need to make sure they and their vehicles are ready for severe weather. Vehicles are much more prone to break down as temperatures plummet and a routine incident or breakdown can become much more serious in severe weather.
“Any broken down vehicles can have a big impact on our motorways and trunk roads, making it harder for road salting vehicles and snow ploughs to operate. As well as putting the driver and passengers at risk, it takes longer to clear the roads and causes delays for everyone else.
“It’s important drivers take a few minutes to check their vehicles, plan their journeys, check the weather forecast and carry an emergency kit. In the most severe weather, they should even consider whether their journey is really necessary before they set out.”Read More.
Solar Power Limitations?
The thousands of solar-powered New Jersey homeowners have spent the last week at the mercy of the power grid, just like everyone else.
“I’ve been asked that all week long,” says Jeff Lega, whose home in Brick is covered in rooftop solar panels. “’Why don’t you have power?’”
Understanding the answer requires an understanding of how residential solar panels function. On a sunny day, rooftop panels can produce more electricity than is needed to power a home. But with no way to store it, the excess juice is sent back to the power grid for consumption elsewhere.
During outages, solar panels connected to the grid cut off automatically so they can’t send a wave of electricity through while a utility worker is doing power line repairs. It’s a necessary safety precaution, but for the last week or so it has left in the dark people who have a free supply of electricity right over their heads.
“People are like, ‘You’ve got solar, what’s the big deal?’” Tom Rogers, of Wall Township said. “No, no. You don’t get it. Solar has nothing to do with generating electricity for your house -- it’s about selling it back to the power company.”Read more.
Small Earthquake Rattles Eastern Kentucky
An earthquake in Kentucky on Saturday was felt as far away as the Carolinas, according to the United States Geological Survey. The 4.3 magnitude quake struck at 12:08 p.m. near Whitesburg, KY.
According to the United States Geological Survey, shaking from the tremor was felt as far away as the North Carolina-South Carolina state line. However, some FOX Carolina News Facebook fans in Taylors and Ealsey also reported feeling the ground shake. There were no immediate reports of damage. Read More.
Would You Be Ready?
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