Sudden Swarm of 7 Missouri Quakes Along New Madrid Fault

There's a bit of irony that comes with this new report of earthquakes in Missouri along the New Madrid Fault. Suddenly, there have been 7 shakers including some large enough to be felt.

The USGS has confirmed that the New Madrid Fault on Missouri's southern border has experienced a swarm of 7 quakes over the past few days. As you can see on the map, they are all clustered in a very small area just south of the town of New Madrid, Missouri itself.

None of these quakes has been large with most in the 2.0 range, but several have been reportedly felt according to the USGS earthquake shake page.

Where is the irony in this new swarm of New Madrid, Missouri earthquakes?

Just yesterday, I received an email reminder that the Great American Shakeout will be observed in Missouri on October 17, 2024. There are more than a quarter million people in Missouri registered to be a part of that exercise to prepare for a potential life-changing earthquake in the middle of America from the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

Perhaps this small swarm of quakes was the New Madrid Fault's way of letting us know it's prepared for the upcoming Great American Shakeout.