What would be the impact of a major earthquake in Memphis, TN?

Question

What area would liquefaction have its most effect? Is there any possibility of a breach of the aquifer? Would the levee fall? Would older structures such as the Peabody Hotel fall? Would other structures in the downtown area sink? How far eastward would be affected? Could the Mississippi River flood and if so, to what degree?

Answer 1

In the 1830s, I think, there was a major quake (magnitude 8.3) centered in New Madrid, MO. It was worse than the quakes along the San Andreas in California. The reason is that California has many fault lines, but Memphis & New Madrid are at the center of the North American continental plate. It's more brittle there.

Fortunately, not many people lived in that region in 1830 (or maybe it was a bit earlier, like 1824; look up New Madrid earthquake) so there were relatively few casualties and not much economic damage. But the shaking was enormous, and I believe the Mississippi changed course.

To answer your question more directly, I believe Memphis is significantly at risk; a repeat of New Madrid would be devastating. You can probably learn more by checking google or wikipedia; type in "New Madrid earthquake" and follow the links.

Answer 2

If "the big one" hit near Memphis, most of the city would probably take severe to extreme damage. Yes, levee's would fail. Areas built on fill next to the river would undergo liquifaction as would nearly the entire flood plain, with the resulting damage similar to that of the San Francisco EQ of '89 in the Marina District.
Older structures would be most at risk for damage, as newer structures will have been constructed to different standards.

Here are some good links for information:
The Virtual Times (also has lots of great links from it) - http://www.hsv.com/genlintr/newmadrd/

USGS - http://quake.usgs.gov/prepare/factsheets/NewMadrid/

University of Memphis Center for Earthquake Research and information (This is really good too, and if you're in Memphis it's in your own backyard!) - http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/public/facts_long.shtml

Answer 3

Tennessee has lots for Nature fanatics many mountains and rivers and so on. Memphis has an substantial production hub and with its place on the mississippi is an substantial port as properly. the place Ohio has the earnings over TN is custom. Cleveland Museum of paintings is the superb interior the midwest (exterior of Chicago). they have 2 international -type orchestras Cleveland and Cincinnati Others could dissagree yet Ohio has the superb faculties as properly Oberlin, Case Western, Cincinnati (circulate Bearcats LOL)

Answer 4

That's a lot of Questions there. All i hope is that Elvis Don't drowned in the Flood from the Mississippi flooding...

Answer 5

If the big one hit memphis, the real estate value would probably double due to the tenements being washed away

Answer 6

Memphis -----------None