Did You Feel It? Arkansas Earthquake Is a Wake-Up Call for Disaster Prep

Did you know there was an earthquake in Arkansas on Wednesday? There have been a ton of things in the news this past week, and the double murder in Northwest Arkansas was heavy on our hearts and minds. Luckity, the suspect was caught. We also heard about the massive 8.8 earthquake in Russia.

The earthquake was in the Greenbrier area on Wednesday afternoon at 12:58 and it measured as a 2.3 magnitude. It's likely most people didn't feel it, but it is a good reminder of what to do in case we have an earthquake.  The New Madrid Fault runs through Arkansas and other nearby states, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois.

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Preparing for the 'Big One' on the New Madrid Fault

Most experts say we should be prepared for the 'big one" because they say it is not 'if' it happens but 'when' it happens.

Hilda Booth of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management told THV11.com news to Drop (to the ground), Cover (your head and neck), and Hold On! She also said it's best to always be two weeks ready with supplies like water, non-perishable food, candles, and other emergency supplies.

Historical Earthquakes in Arkansas: The 1811 and 1812 Quakes

Don't think a big earthquake could happen in Arkansas? It already had two of the biggest, considering the damage back in 1811 and 1812. They took place in the area that is now known as Blytheville. Experts estimate the quakes back then were around 7.7 to 8 in magnitude by the changes in the terrain.

Reports show that those earthquakes were felt as far as New England and Canada. Arkansas was not very populated at the time, so there weren't as many deaths as there could have been, but there were Native American populations and European settlers in the areas, so we will never really know the loss of life across the areas of the fault line.