It only takes one event to spark questions about general safety in a natural disaster. Typically in Kansas, we pay attention to tornadoes. But what is the likely hood of seeing another Nortonville quake, and is it possible to see much worse? "There are a number of fault lines in Kansas particularly one that runs from Omaha to Oklahoma City, so it goes down from Wamego down to El Dorado." University of Kansas seismologist Don Steeples says northeast Kansas typically sees an earthquake every couple of years and the people near the epicenter are more likely feel them. "The further you get from the earthquake the less likely you are able to hear it." Measuring 3.1 on the Richter Scale, last weeks earthquake in Jefferson County was minor, and reported no damage. But could we see a destructive earthquake close to home?
Steeples says it possible, but not likely. We know every couple thousand years we can expect an earthquake in the magnitude of the 6 range." Still, some are taking the extra steps to ensure safety for others. "Tuttle Creek Reservoir is undergoing retrofit right now for earthquake preparedness to get it up to par for an earthquake magnitude around 6.5." Located just west of Humboldt fault line, an earthquake with a magnitude 6.0 would destroy the dam, and completely flood Manhattan. This, says steeples, would be the worst case scenario and believes it's better to be safe than sorry. "It's just good prudent public policy to have the public protected for the rare event to the extent that you can." The slightest movement of a fault line could spark a magnitude three, like last weeks earthquake. In the meantime, we should not underestimate the possibility of an unlikely disaster.