Maybe This Is Why MO Has no Building Codes.

[James H. Bushart]

New Madrid fault line repeatedly shakes southeast Missouri

Originally printed at http://www.ky3.com/news/local/79978917.html


ST. LOUIS -- The New Madrid fault line has been rumbling again.



While an earthquake expert says a recent series of small quakes isn't unusual, it is a reminder of what the active fault is capable of doing.


Instruments recorded four small quakes near New Madrid in southeast Missouri in the past week. The largest was a magnitude 3.1 quake on Friday that was felt in parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky.


Robert Hermann of the Earthquake Center at Saint Louis University says a quake large enough to be felt happens about once a month in the region, and quakes with magnitude 2.0 and smaller happen on an almost daily basis.


Hermann is careful not to downplay the rumbling because many experts fear it is only a matter of time before another big quake hits the region.








Makes sense to wait until everything falls down...then implement building codes, and build it all correctly the second time.