New Madrid

The New Madrid Sequence of 1811-1812

Susan E. Hough: U.S.G.S., 525 S. Wilson Ave, Pasadena CA, 91106; http://www-socal.wr.usgs.gov/hough/hough.html

Links below provide tables of re-evaluated MMI Values for the three principle mainshocks of the 1811-1812 New Madrid sequence. These are the values presented in my abstract at the 1999 fall American Geophysical Union meeting and appear in the Oct. 10, 2000 issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research. The values are derived from previously compiled original sources as well as a small number of new sources not included in earlier studies. Reprints of the JGR article are available by mail, by request. Reinterpreted MMI values are given in tables, below:

The first event: 2:15 a.m. local time, 12/16/1811 (Or, Map view; or ShakeMap!)
The second event: 8:00 a.m. local time, 1/23/1812
The "hard shock":

A volcano in North Carolina?

One enduring bit of folklore from the New Madrid sequence concerns a volcanic eruption in western North Carolina at the time of the 12/16/1811 event. This tale, the roots of which trace back to a discredited contemporary account, is, of course, untrue. But is there a germ of truth within the hoax? Click this link to read a little more about this intriguing chapter of the New Madrid story.