A follow-up for me to "When the Mississippi Ran Backwards". That book was disappointly short on information about the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes, so I've been hunting for more information. This book was mostly about the lingering effects of the quakes. Subtitled "The Shaking Stopped in 1812, but the Impact Goes On", this locally published book includes dozens of charts and photos that explain was literally happening to the ground during the quakes, and showing the still-visible scars. It tended to be rather repetitive on several points, especially when the same kinds of damage is seen in several locations. However, I am now quite well versed on the subject of soil liquifaction and the origin of the numerous sand boils that litter the landscape in SE Missouri. What was especially impressive, and frightening, was learning just how unstable the ground still is, 200 years after it was disturbed in the earthquakes. The problem is that scientists and engineers have only recognized this in the last 20 or 30 years, and many of the buildings and much of the local infrastructure was constructed much earlier than that. Plus, local building codes have only recently (20 years or so) required new construction to be quake-resistant, and little retrofitting of older buildings has been done. So, in the event of another major "event" along this fault, power plants are likely to collapse, underground gas lines will burst, buildings of all kinds will collapse, and even roadways and air strips will be destroyed. Every kind of support that will be needed in the event of a disaster will be damaged or destroyed along with homes and offices.

Not exactly a professional, scientific book - it reads more like the presentation of a local "expert", complete with slide show, that would be given at the community center. I don't think the science is suspect - it appears that this really is the area of expertise of the author. It's just that the book has a "homemade" quality about it. But it is interesting and informative. Recommended, if you can find it. ( )