The Mississippi's big shake

Serious concern about devastating seismic activity occurring along the New Madrid Fault zone stems largely from considerations arising from a historical event (the late 1811-early 1812 series of earthquakes along that fault, one of the great observed natural calamities of recent times in this hemisphere). Reflections of the Little Rock District (LRD), U.S. Corps of Engineers, concerning that District's close proximity of its boundaries to the New Madrid Fault has prompted the preparation of an April 1988 LRD Earthquake Contingency Response Plan. Questions and comments concerning that plan should be referred to the Chief, Emergency Management Branch, LRD, P.0. Box 867, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203. Much of what follows is taken from the LRD Earthquake Contingency Response Plan.