The Earthquake America Forgot: Two Thousand Temblors in Five Months and It will Happen Again

Starting December 16, 1811, with an 8.6 magnitude earthquake, the greatest release of seismic energy in American History occurred with over 2000 earthquakes in five months. Collectively called "The New Madrid Earthquake," the largest was an 8.8 on February 7, 1812, that made the Mississippi River run backwards and swallowed five whole towns. These quakes were felt from Canada to Mexico, from Cuba to Wyoming, from the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast. They rang church bells in Boston, toppled hundreds of chimneys in Cincinnati, and damaged wineries in Virginia hundreds of miles from the epicenter. Yet, most people are unaware of this historic event and do not realize that it will happen again. This book tells in compelling and graphic language the experiences of people living at the time, including Indians, slaves, white settlers, and the politicians of the day. It also provides detailed information and probabilities on future New Madrid earthquakes and how you can prepare for them.