Study Shows Tennessee Would Lose Most People, Buildings from Earthquake

A new federal study of the New Madrid Seismic Zone predicts Tennessee would see the highest level of damage if there is a 7.7 magnitude earthquake.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency released the two-year study as part of the Catastrophic Earthquake Disaster Response Planning Initiative.

Besides Tennessee, the seismic zone includes areas of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and Missouri.

The report included state-specific scenarios such as damage levels to buildings, highway bridges, electric power, drinkable water, waste water, communications facilities and pipelines.

In Tennessee, the results show 250,000 buildings would be moderately or more severely damaged, over 260,000 people would be displaced and well over 60,000 casualties would be expected.

In Arkansas, the report estimates such an eathquake would kill 574 people, injure 13,403 and cause about $19 billion in damages.

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On the Net:

Mid-America Earthquake Center: http://mae.ce.uiuc.edu/

Latest Comments

• November 25, 2008 at 4:13 am

  Anonymous says:

  We need the bail out? I think you have it wrong. All the big time companies need a bail out not us. I believe you have a bitter taste in your mouth that maybe mommy needs to w... read more
• November 25, 2008 at 3:09 am

  New Madrid Sam says:

  Nice. Not only perpetuate the "new Madrid Earthquake Myth" but also the "Bush didn't do enough for the Katrina people" BS. No wonder you guys need a bail out.
• November 25, 2008 at 2:43 am

  Anonymous says:

  Lol!