Sudden Bridge Closure Shows Why Illinois Needs Quake Prep

We are experiencing a teachable moment right now if anyone is paying attention. A sudden bridge closure in Quincy this week should be a reminder that everyone in Illinois needs to have an earthquake preparation plan.

If you're somehow not familiar with the situation, the Quincy Memorial Bridge had to be suddenly closed this week after structural problems were discovered. The Illinois Department of Transportation just shared this update saying it's now expected to be closed 4 weeks.

What does the Quincy bridge closure have to do with earthquakes?

I learned about the bridge closure Monday night which meant my drive into Quincy would be affected Tuesday morning. I ended up having about a 10 to 15 minute delay for my regular morning commute from Missouri. Keep in mind that I had many hours warning before I had to figure out a plan. If a major earthquake either from the New Madrid Fault or the Wabash Valley seismic area were to strike, residents in Illinois and Missouri would have no warning. I've seen estimates that after a major Midwest earthquake, it's likely that all bridges would be closed at least until they could be inspected to make sure they were safe for travel. If damage was discovered, the bridges would likely be closed for weeks if not months. You would immediately need to know how you would continue to live and work without reliable bridge access.

This is why my wife and I have already talked about what we would do if I'm unable to return home to Missouri after a quake or not be able to reach my work if it happened while I'm home. It's not a situation I hope to ever have to live out, but at least we have a rough plan. The closing of the Quincy Memorial Bridge for a few weeks is a reminder that planning ahead could save you big problems later if an earthquake were to impact us.