Missouri at Risk: 8 Building Types Vulnerable to New Madrid Quake

Most of us in Missouri have never lived through a major earthquake and that's a good thing, but the USGS is warning that we should be aware of 8 building types that are most at risk of collapse when the New Madrid Fault eventually unleashes a big shake.

In their "Facts about the New Madrid Seismic Zone", the USGS says you need to be aware that there are 8 building types you need to know are susceptible to collapse during a major earthquake. These are the places you do not want to be in if a catastrophic quake were to occur:

Tall buildings

Auditoriums

Classrooms

Factories

Hospitals

Churches

Brick Buildings

Buildings with Odd Shapes or Lots of Corners

The USGS adds that inside any building type, you need to beware of "bookshelves, file cabinets, storage racks, pipes, fire sprinkler systems, water heaters, mechanical equipment" or any other type of unanchored fixtures that would likely be toppled if a major New Madrid quake were to occur.

The USGS says that in a hypothetical 7.6 magnitude quake these Missouri areas would be hit the hardest

I think most in Missouri don't realize that the USGS estimates a major New Madrid quake would not just be a problem for the boot heel area of the state and St. Louis, but also many towns along the Mississippi River. They believe the shockwave of a major tremor would almost seem to travel up the river where even northeast Missouri would likely see some type of damage.

You also need to know that while bridges would also be impassable for a period of time even if they didn't collapse during a major New Madrid Fault event. Workers would need to inspect them for damage before a bridge would be available for travel. That would complicate rescue efforts on both sides of the Mississippi River.

This is the reason why I constantly encourage everyone that lives in the New Madrid Fault region to be earthquake aware. That does NOT mean you need to sweat over all the minor New Madrid quakes we see, but just have a mental plan of what you would do if a catastrophic quake were to occur. Knowing what buildings are safe and which are not is a crucial part of that plan for the day we all hope we'll never live to see.