Multi-Agency Earthquake Experts Plan For Potential Trembler Damage
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NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Did you feel it? Another earthquake rattled Irving and Dallas Monday morning. Ironically, it happened on the same day that local, state and national experts gathered in Dallas to discuss updates and preparedness measures for the ongoing local seismic threat.
The quake happened just after 6:00 a.m. and was realtively mild and shallow -- magnitude 2.4.
"It was kind of creepy but I was scared, but I did feel it," Oscar Bautista told CBS 11 News. He is worried that the quakes seem to be coming more frequently and he's not alone. North Texan Luis Adrian Garcia said, "Well, the epicenters are pretty close. It really bothers me that this is going on."
The quake on Monday wasn't as a big a shaker as some that hit Irving earlier this year. But they were on the minds of experts in an earthquake planning meeting at Dallas City Hall. Officials with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shared its ground-shaking data with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) leaders, which will incorporate them into computer models to estimate probable damage to buildings, highways and bridges.
There were two scenarios: a 4.8 magnitude quake, and a 5.6 according to participants, including the City of Dallas Director of Emergency Management, Rocky Vaz. "The four-point-eight from what they told us---very low probability and 5.6 is even lower," according to Vaz.
Robert Williams was another participant. He is an Earthquake Hazards Geophysicist for the USGS in Golden, Colorado. He points out a 5.6 would be 30-times more powerful than the 4.8 and millions would feel it. A probable worst-case scenario. Powerful, but survivable. "It would not be a catastrophic impact," according to Williams, "but would potentially cause some disruptions to some transportation."
Vaz expects some buildings to effected. "The buildings will, maybe high-rises. Maybe not so much on single family homes."
Besides Dallas and Irving city officials and Southern Methodist University (SMU) seismologists, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Texas Railroad Commission were here...they'll all formulate a game plan in the coming months. One thing reportedly not discussed, though at the heart of the issue: just what's causing the earthquakes.
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