18 Feb 2004, 17:35, Joe Nicholson (1:202/1324), wrote to Bob Breed:

Hi Joe.

 BB>> Anyway the New Madrid fault is seldom mentioned,but if it
 BB>> does let go, look out!  Big sucker and will cause a lot
 BB>> of damage, probably more than if the san Andreas lets go?

 JN>  New Madrid is listed at 8.75, based on damage reports after the
 JN>  Richter scale was adopted in 1935.  That is the biggest in the
 JN>  U.S., surpassing 'Frisco in '06.

 JN>  Charleston, S.C. is in the record book for a 6.6 with 60 deaths.

 JN>  So the West coast isn't the only place where the North American
 JN>  shelf has ripped loose on occassions.  

New Madrid is a bit frightening though, as it crosses under the Mississippi
River.  A whole bunch of water is going to pour down a big crack onto some
hot rocks.  Probably make all of Yellowstone look like a backyard 'kiddie
pool'...

Speaking of Yellowstone, there's a big magma bulge there that's been
growing for decades...


     Good luck...  M.  

--- Msged/386 TE 06 (pre)