Earth Quake

[Eddy]

US scientists say Haiti, Dominican Republic could be entering period of powerful quakes

By Associated Press, Published: January 26
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic could be in for a period of periodic powerful earthquakes, according to a scientific study released Thursday.
The study says Haiti’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake two years ago is likely to be the first of several quakes of a similarly powerful magnitude.

1 The Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake caused widespread damage in the Haitian capital and surrounding cities. Officials say the disaster killed 314,000 people and toppled thousands of crudely built homes.
“The 2010 Haiti earthquake may mark the beginning of a new cycle of large earthquakes on the Enriquillo fault system after 240 years of seismic quiescence,” lead author William Bakun of the U.S. Geological Survey wrote. “The entire Enriquillo fault system appears to be seismically active; Haiti and the Dominican Republic should prepare for future devastating earthquakes.”
The authors document a series of four major earthquakes of magnitude 6.6 and higher that struck Hispaniola, the Caribbean island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The phase began in 1701, near the site of the 2010 quake, and ended in 1770.
There was no evidence of significant earthquake activity on the Enriquillo fault system in the 240 years from 1770 until the 2010 disaster, except for an earthquake in 1860 that likely occurred offshore, the study said.
The possibility that a newly active period has begun underscores the need for Haiti and the Dominican Republic to focus on building seismic-proof structures, Bakun said.
“Whatever information people have to guide reconstruction efforts in Haiti ... is certainly useful,” Bakun said by telephone from Merlo Park, California.
The study appears in the February edition of the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America.
Moderate quakes have struck the Dominican Republic in recent weeks but there were no reports of damage.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

[windeguy]

US scientists say Haiti, Dominican Republic could be entering period of powerful quakes

Or maybe not.

[Poncho]

I keep warning everyone here, but they laugh it off. I am ready !!!!

[windeguy]

I keep warning everyone here, but they laugh it off. I am ready !!!!

There is no question there will be earthquakes in the future, but the technology does not exist to predict when and where accurately. Being prepared is of course a good idea.

[expatsooner]

“ 'The entire Enriquillo fault system appears to be seismically active; Haiti and the Dominican Republic should prepare for future devastating earthquakes.' The authors document a series of four major earthquakes of magnitude 6.6 and higher that struck Hispaniola, the Caribbean island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The phase began in 1701, near the site of the 2010 quake, and ended in 1770."

I agree windeguy but I am wondering how seismically active the fault is in comparision to when the monitors were first placed - if there is a significant increase in activity it would be interesting to know just how much of an increase.

[bachata]

A tornado blew up from the grownd a house across the
street From mine last year... Any time I feel strong winds
I'm aware of another tornado.

JJ

[expatsooner]

Well, if you are living in Tornado Alley and it is spring time you probably are worried JJ.

[mike775103]

I've lived in the heart of tornado alley all my life. As a young boy I watched one skip over my house and hit the house on the hill above us. Nothing was left but matchstick sized splinters. On the other hand I never worry about them. I figure if one has your name on it you are dead; and your problems are over. If it doesn't have your name on it, you are ok. I sleep like a baby through all the warnings and watches.

Recently a storm chaser (the guys who drive to the tornadoes and try to film and record data from inside the funnel) was killed on an expedition. On the way home a semi rig crossed the middle barrier and took him out in a head on collision. You never know what is going to get you.