Beans & LegumesEarthquakes in Arkansas? What to do…
If you’re from California or the Rocky Mountains, you’re probably used to the ground shaking and the pictures falling off the wall from time to time.
But Arkansas? No joke, within the month of February alone there have been over 80 earthquakes in Arkansas some even as high as 4.1 magnitude. No one knows why at this point.
However due to the high amount of quakes around the country and the recent quake in New Zealand, we thought it’s a good time to brush up on earthquake safety. So here is what you need to know:
If indoors
Quickly cover your head with your arms or other objects, drop to the ground and get under a sturdy table or other furniture. If there is no stable furniture nearby, crouch in an inside corner of the building away from windows. Only use a doorway for shelter if it is close by and it is on a load bearing wall. If you are in bed when the quake hits, stay in bed and cover your head with your pillow. Move away from hanging light fixtures. Most injuries occur when people move to a different location or try to leave the building during an earthquake. Do not use any elevators.
If outdoors
Move away from buildings, walls, telephone poles, wires, and streetlights. Try to get into the most open area you can. Stay until the shaking stops. Ground movement is not a big cause of injury or death, but falling walls, buildings, objects and glass are. If you are in your car, try to stop the car as quickly and safely as possible. Stay in your car until the shaking stops. Don’t go near tunnels, bridges, or overpasses.
If trapped under debris
Cover your face with your clothing, do not use a lighter or match for light as they may ignite gasses that could be in the air. They also will burn up your oxygen. Try to not move around as much as possible so you do not pick up the dust. If you can find a safe way out, take it. Don’t yell for help, but rather bang on a nearby pipe or board to create noise. Yell only as a last resort. This will help decrease the amount of dust or gases you take in.
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There was reportedly a 4.7 quake last night, 2/27, the biggest since 1976. If it’s believed these little quakes are in conjunction with natural gas production, why risk setting off a larger quake? Something different needs to be done.
February 28th, 2011 at 5:45 amThere was also a second quake in the same area 17 minutes after the first, which registered 3.8
February 28th, 2011 at 7:41 amCheck out articles on “triangle of life” for earthquake safety
February 28th, 2011 at 7:56 amThere have been two more here in Arkansas after the first two. One was a 3.6 and the other 3.2
February 28th, 2011 at 7:56 amPlenty of people know why these quakes are occurring. There is a huge fault line in the area called the New Madrid Seismic Zone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Seismic_Zone). It’s very active and becoming more potent. Even the federal gov’t is worried, they have been gathering disaster supplies in the area.
February 28th, 2011 at 7:59 amI followed Betty’s advice and checked out ‘Triangle of Life’. Everyone should do the same. It’s well worth reading. Thanks for the information, Betty.
February 28th, 2011 at 9:26 amWe felt that first one around 11;00 P.M.,2/27, here in the Shirley/Clinton area. We were in the basement at the time, so it was rather loud. We were under a severe weather watch, so my first thought was a tornado. My husband had just gotten out of the bathtub, and the water was still rippling from the vibration. In fact, the treadmill that I was standing by was shaking, so it must have been quite significant. Apparently it was, from what the other gentlemen wrote. Thank you for the information on how to respond in such conditions.
February 28th, 2011 at 9:28 amI too followed Betty’s advice, and read the “triangle of life”. I never would have thought about being concerned about earthquakes here in Arkansas, but strange things are going on everywhere. I am glad to have that information. Thank you.
February 28th, 2011 at 9:51 amI’m in Memphis TN and my 16 year old son felt that quake at 11:00 last night! He was in bed and his bed was shaking. He was really scared, he came down and told us about it, just scared to death. He never felt a quake before so he didn’t know what it was. My husband and I didn’t feel it so we just thought you know that he was just falling off to sleep and got startled or something and it made the bed shake. But later I went and looked it up and sure enough there was a quake around 11:00. Can’t believe he felt it this far away. After I told him it was a quake in AR, he could finally go to sleep, he thought some demon or something was out to get him! lol
February 28th, 2011 at 10:19 amIf you read the “Triangle of Life” article, please ALSO read the Snopes.com article on it.
February 28th, 2011 at 11:31 amhttp://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/triangle.asp
Earthquakes are no joke. I’ve lived through several in CA and it’s frightful. In addition to reading the Triangle of Life info, I recommend reading the Snopes website which levies some counter claims to the info in the Triangle of Life. It pays to be informed, but be fully informed.
February 28th, 2011 at 1:42 pmAre the ‘triangle of life’ articles on this site?
February 28th, 2011 at 2:03 pmThese earthquakes are probably due to the New Madrid Fault Line. This fault has become more active lately.Earthquakes that occur in the New Madrid Seismic Zone potentially threaten parts of seven American states: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi.
February 28th, 2011 at 3:15 pmHere are some great websites
http://www.cusec.org
http://www.shakeout.org/centralus
http://www.earthquakecountry.info
Although most people have never heard of it, the New Madrid (pronounced Mad-Rid) Seismic Zone is the site of one of the worst, if not the worst, earthquake in US history, and the “BIG ONE” might very well occur there, and not in California. If so, the devastation would be enormous. It would be a rift earthquake, not a fault earthquake as in California. Rifts occur when one part of a continent tries to pull away from the rest. (Think Rift Valey in Africa.) Fault earthquakes occur when one part of a continent slips and slides past another part. (Think San Andreas Fault)
February 28th, 2011 at 3:31 pmhttp://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/triangle.asp
Try this for Triangle of Life information.
February 28th, 2011 at 4:16 pmThere are a number of reports here in Australia of a phosgene coverup in arkansas near little rock base whereby it was buried for disposal. Smells like cut grass. Doesn’t matter if true or not for debate purposes but from a perspective of preparedness just in case you need ammonia on hand to prevent death. The antidote recipe is freely available on wiki under phosgene.
February 28th, 2011 at 5:58 pmGood luck with your preparations should these quakes continue.
Godspeed to all in uncertain times
We live in earthquake territory here in California. We’ve had upwards of 700 in one week acc. to the CA-NV earthquake website. It’s important to be prepared for these eventualities and even more important to be ready for what comes after if you don’t make it through. Now is definitely the time to be in right relationship with our Creator.
February 28th, 2011 at 7:28 pmHere in New Madrid County, Missouri, we have become accustomed to minor shakes from time to time. Magnitude 3 to 4 may be uncommon, but they do occur at times.
However, the New Madrid Seismic Zone actually runs from southern Illinois through southeast Missouri and into northeastern Arkansas. These recent events in Arkansas are located north of Little Rock, and as far as I know, are not connected to the New Madrid fault zone.
We are coming up on the bicentennial of the New Madrid quakes of December 1811 to February 1812. At least 3 of those quakes were Magnitude 8.0 or better out of approximately 2000 that occured during that time.
For those of you who enjoy a good novel, there was a book written several years ago entitled “8.4″ about a major quake along the New Madrid fault in today’s times. While I do not recall the name of the author, he was once a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and apparently knew our area quite well.
Earthquakes are only ONE of several reasons why we here have been “prepping” for years!
February 28th, 2011 at 9:08 pmOur community on the central coast of California recently held an earthquake preparedness seminar with over 1,000 people in attendance.We are taking the recent event in Christchurch seriously.In January of this year the USGS,television and news publications all warned that California is overdue for a 8.0 or larger earthquake.We have many small earthquakes daily in California.Some have mocked those of us who are preparing and I feel sorry for them as they will not have the things needed to sustain them.They have been warned.That’s all we can do.
March 1st, 2011 at 2:54 pmActually, the latest thought on surviving indoors is NOT to get UNDER something, which, if a ceiling fell on it, could collapse & crush you. The best thing to do is get NEXT to a bed, couch, or something large. If something were to fall on these, they can only crush so much, and would leave a pocket next to them.
March 2nd, 2011 at 3:19 pmIn addition to naturally occurring fault lines Arkansas is being ravaged by the natural gas process called fracking. This is the process by which natural gas is drilled for on leased property and this pollutes the water (sometimes causing it to become flammable) making it undrinkable. Seriously look this up…..its a danger to everyone.
March 21st, 2011 at 1:27 amWith Katrina the mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana both refused to declare an emergency so the Federal government could step in with FEMA and help until they got hit and the city half destroyed.
April 11th, 2011 at 11:22 pmWe must pay attention here on the West coast to earthquake preparedness because we are part of the ring of fire, California has 66 volcanos, only Lassen is semi active right now, but many could blow, including mono lake basin. the new triangle of life info needs to be spread as Rick C said already. Lie next to something big in a collapsing bldg., not under it. I am trying to spread it among my very extended family and friends all over the world. Also of course getting what supplies I can. The Katadyn water filters are the best. I’ve had a couple for years. Gave one of mine to overseas friends who are very poor.
April 11th, 2011 at 11:31 pmchecking things out, need to read some more of your posts before I give an opinion
November 6th, 2011 at 10:18 pm