Two New Madrid Quakes Rattle Opposite Banks of Mississippi

I have seen some earthquake activity in Missouri that shouldn't be alarming (yet), but I do find it interesting. The USGS has confirmed there have been almost identical earthquakes Friday morning that happened on opposite banks of the Mississippi River.

As I was looking earthquake activity today from the USGS, I noticed a couple of Missouri quakes which is not unusual, but their symmetrical location was. It wasn't until I investigated further that I noticed something interesting. First, here's a small 1.8 magnitude quake that happened Friday morning.

Within a very short amount of time, another quake happened almost directly across the bend of the Mississippi River near New Madrid, Missouri, but on the opposite side of the river. This was also a small 1.9 magnitude quake.

I know that many will roll their eyes about earthquakes like this that are small enough that no one in the region could even feel them. I get it. However, how often have you seen New Madrid Seismic Zone quakes that looked like twins so close together? No, this is not a region to start stocking up on bottled water, but it is a fun reminder of how everyone in Missouri and especially in the southeastern part of the state need to be prepared in the event that a major New Madrid Fault quake were to happen. I'd much rather share information about odd minor quakes instead of one damaging big one.