Earthquakes in New England

By: Laura Masinick and Chelsea Bonollo

Past

• 6.0 mag. Cape Ann, MA, 1755• 1927: Maine to Delaware• First recorded: 1638 epicenter in c. NH 6.5-7• 1940 Ossipee NH• Seismographs in early 1900’s

Present

• NE densely populated –more people at risk• Solid bedrock=widespread but not as

dangerous -40 times more• Historical and red brick structures• Updated building codes• Unknown how they happen here

Cause (in NH)

• Not caused by known faults (NE)• Far from plate boundaries• “intra-plate” activity• Sudden release of stress along a fault• Movement-rocks move past each other• Wave-like vibrations

Probability

• 40-50 per year• From 1638-2007 NH 360 earthquakes• NH is at a moderate risk

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Preparation• What to do while• After

Citations• http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/135095/US-FAULT-LINES.jpg• http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/risk.shtm • http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=+seismograph&view=detail&id=95B0B6B302F6279D

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• http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=FEMA+logo&view=detail&id=49943AE4AA114789586A30D9A2D4AB67EC1B3C15&first=1&FORM=IDFRIR&qpvt=