(KFVS/WKYT) – Many people reported feeling movement on Thursday, April 23, in areas of the Heartland. It was all caused by a magnitude 4.0 earthquake in Permiscot County.
Hundreds have reported feeling the quake, which was followed by a smaller one.
Jeff Grunwald, the administrator of the New Madrid Historical Museum, says Thursday was only the second time a magnitude 4 earthquake has been recorded in the Show-Me state since 1991.
The epicenter was located just outside of Cooter, Missouri, about 7 miles underground. It happened just before 1 p.m., and reports of it being felt as far as Evansville, Indiana.
Grunwald spoke on the likelihood of earthquakes, big and small.
“So back in 1811 and 12, you had earthquakes, three of them that were probably in the 7 magnitude range,” Grunwald said. “They think those happen about every 500 to 1000 years… not a schedule, right? Could be 3000 years. Could be tomorrow.”
Like the West Coast, the Midwest is also associated with earthquakes. The New Madrid Fault has been responsible for numerous disasters, including back in the early 1800s.
What makes the Heartland different is how shockwaves travel.
“Shock waves from earthquakes from this part of the country travel much further than they do on the West Coast,” Grunwald said. “Shock waves in this part of the country travel up to 20 times as far as they do out there. The density of the bedrock… it’s more dense. There is more fracturing, so waves go through it more easily and go a lot further. That’s why folks in say Cape, and even northward, need to be aware and prepared for earthquake hazards.”
If you’d like to learn more about the history of earthquakes in the Heartland, the New Madrid Historical Museum is a great source of information. To find out more, click here.