In the US, we tend to think of earthquakes as something that happens west of the Rockies. That’s true for the most part, except for one notable exception: the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ).

The state of Missouri is trying to get the word out to the people in the region, and has launched a campaign to educate people in the region about earthquake awareness and preparedness. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the State Emergency Management Agency, and the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission, along with other state agencies have teamed up for the campaign, marking February as “Earthquake Awareness Month.”

The NMSZ is centered in southeastern Missouri, but extends into areas of Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois, cutting across the Ohio River in two places, and the Mississippi River in three places.

The area experiences more than 200 small earthquakes a year, but in early 1812, the town of New Madrid, Missouri was struck by an earthquake exceeding magnitude 7.0, and reportedly rang church bells as far away as New York City. With nearly two centuries of population expansion in the region, state planners are concerned that a repeat performance could spell serious disaster for the region.

With that in mind, the state has made an effort to showcase both the history of the 1812 quake, as well as geological information about the region in many St. Louis museums and other public places throughout the state.

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