County EMA Hosts Planning For Earthquake Disaster

By Debby Stricker
How do you prepare for a disaster as significant as a major earthquake?
That was the discussion at a program hosted by Washington County EMS Deputy Director Darrah Sabo at the Addieville Fire House last Wednesday. The event was held on the Great Shake Out Day, when citizens are asked to practice earthquake drills.
Law enforcement, fire departments volunteers, and public work representatives discussed scenarios to deal with the aftermath of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake along the New Madrid Seismic Zone. It would significantly affect the southern part of Illinois, including Washington County.
The U.S. Geological Survey has projected that an earthquake of 7.5-8.0 magnitude has a 7-10 percent probability in the next 50 years. An earthquake of 6. – 7.0 has a 28-46 percent probability over the next 50 years.
Due to the nature of bedrock in the earth’s crust in Central U.S., earthquakes in our region can shake an area approximately 20 times larger than earthquakes in California…

Read more, including the hypothetical situation discussed, in the October 25 issue.