Bob McCarty Writes

The 5.2-magnitude earthquake that struck a northern portion of the New Madrid Seismic Zone Friday put cracks in a purported theory that the fault zone is “cold and dying,” according to the experts at the Institute for Business & Home Safety.

While the earthquake, centered five miles northeast of Bellmont, Ill., did not result in major structural damage, it is a reminder of the risks facing residents in the New Madrid area, said Dr. Timothy Reinhold, IBHS director of engineering and vice president. Additional earthquake activity is common after a tremor, so residents should be on-guard against the possibility.

“This should serve as a wake-up call that the chance for significant earthquake activity in this area is very real,” Reinhold said. “The fault is not dormant or dying, as some scientists would like us to believe.”

For existing homes and businesses, IBHS offers the following guidance to protect interior valuables and appliances. Step-by-step information for completing these low-cost, primarily do-it-yourself projects is available at DisasterSafety.org.