Tremors or The Big One?

St Louis is located near the infamous New Madrid Fault.  Infamous because between December 16th, 1811 and January 23, 1812 the strongest earthquakes in US history occurred.  They were strong enough to make the Mississippi River run backwards, change part of its course, and create, temporarily, waterfalls at Kentucky Bend.

When we moved to the St Louis area some time ago, I gave the earthquake thing some thought.  I had felt tremors before when I lived in Central Illinois.  A few were fairly strong but they were very short lived and didn’t cause any damage.  But it is different when you live in an area surrounded by rivers and bridges and overpasses and lots of hills and trees.  I could imagine bridges collapsing, rivers changing course, and trees splitting and falling on our house.  The only thing I really worried about was being on the other side of a river from my husband and not being able to get to him.  St Louis County is really like an island.  We have the Mississippi on one side, wrapping around from the other side is the Missouri, then, to the south is the Meramec.  I haven’t heard anyone else describe it this way but it is how I see it.

After a short time of insignificant worry, I pretty much shelved the thought.  I no longer have to cross the rivers or use any overpasses unless I want to.  My work world has gone down to about a six mile radius and I love it this way.  Yes, a tree could still fall but we have experienced that when we have had tornadoes.  So far, none have hit the house.

In 2008 we had a series of moderate tremors.  One occurred about 11 pm.  I was in bed, not yet asleep, just relaxing and thinking about the next days plans.  I heard the strangest noise, like a deep, growling rumble, then rattling of dishes, glass, and things on shelves, and then I felt it.  It made the bed rock and the lamp over my head swing.  It stopped after about 10 seconds and I got up and turned on the TV to check the news.  Sure enough, an earthquake.  For the next few days there were minor tremors and I felt two of them.  None were as strong as that first one. 

I do try to stay prepared with extra water and canned goods on hand.  We have a small cook stove and plenty of blankets, batteries, flashlights, lanterns, etc.  But if the ‘big one’ does hit I am not sure the preparation will be that helpful.  It takes so long just to get a pothole filled or get power up and running after an ice storm; I can’t imagine the clean up after a major earthquake would go well.  Best hope is that we stick with the tremors and let California continue its (undeserved) reputation for the big ones.