TEMA director talks history of earthquakes in West TN, how to prepare
JACKSON, Tenn. — Many people were recently reminded that earthquakes are possible locally. If you have not heard, a small one occurred in the northeast Jackson area late Thursday morning.
We spoke with TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan about the possibility of these and how they have affected our landscape in the past.
📸: Sheehan
“About this time in 1812 however, Reelfoot Lake, which is the only natural lake in the State of Tennessee of any size, existed. In large part due to the large earthquakes that happened there in the New Madrid seismic zone,” Sheehan said.
It is always important to have some items handy in case an earthquake, or any disaster happens. Sheehan says to have bike helmets, gloves, boots, a pry bar, flashlights, cell phone chargers, a weather radio, and drinking water.
“You can kind of just collect those in one place so you don’t have to go hunt and find them when something pops up,” Sheehan said. “You don’t have to have more stuff. You can just make better use of the stuff that you already have.”
According to the Tennessee Comptroller’s website, schools that lie entirely or partially within 100 miles of the New Madrid fault line are required to conduct at least two earthquake drills per year.
There is also another way that some schools stay prepared.
“Some schools participate in the Great American Shakeout. You really kind of emphasize doing the drop, cover, and hold on part of preparing,” Sheehan said.
It is always important to stay prepared as you never know when something like this can occur.
You also may be interested in getting earthquake insurance if you do not have it. Most insurers can offer this for you.
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