by Richard Lloyd Evans

Created on: February 11, 2011   Last Updated: February 12, 2011

With our minds taking in the catastrophes of earthquakes in Haiti and other locations, we should remember the New Madrid Earthquake, the most widely felt trembler in the known history of North America. It completely destroyed New Madrid, of the Louisiana Territory (now Missouri) and caused extensive damage in modern day Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky, while reports were published of damage as far away as Washington D.C. and church bells ringing in Boston, Massachusetts and York, Canada (now Toronto).

Although popularly called the New Madrid Earthquake, it was actually a vast series of over 1000 earthquakes that occurred in 1811 through 1812. It was highlighted by four severe earthquakes that happened between December 16, 1811 and February 7, 1812. All four of the most severe earthquakes have been estimated at between 7.0 and 8.2 on the Richter Scale.

December 16, 1811

The first two severe earthquakes were centered in what is now Northeastern Arkansas. The first happened at 2:15 in the morning at an estimated strength between 7.2-8.1 on the Richter Scale. Reportedly it sent a seiche up the Mississippi River. A seiche is a forced wave on rivers, streams and lakes, essentially a small tsunami wave in a restricted body of water. There was limited damage to manmade structures, mostly because the area in 1811 was sparsely populated.

The second earthquake was located at the same area and was also estimated between 7.2-8.1 on the Richter scale. It struck at 8:15 am and had a similar intensity and effect.

January 23, 1812

A third earthquake struck at 9:14 am to the north and east of the previous two, this one located in the boot heel region of modern day Southeast Missouri. Estimates for this earthquake run between 7.0-7.8 on the Richter scale. The earthquake caused large avalanches and stream banks cave in. Again, damage to manmade structures was low due to the sparse population. Seismologists theorize that the January 23 earthquake placed pressure on the New Madrid North Fault Line, a part of the Reelfoot Faultline running through parts of Tennessee and Missouri, setting up the fourth and final earthquake.

February 7, 1812

At 4:45 am an earthquake estimated between 7.4-8.0 on the Richter Scale struck with an epicenter near New Madrid. This area was more populated and the damage was catastrophic. New Madrid, a town of several hundred people, was destroyed and St. Louis, Missouri had several houses completely leveled. Numerous reports told of the Mississippi

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