What's Causing the Earthquakes in Oklahoma?
And if you live there, what should you do to stay safe?
Alaska and California have long reigned supreme as the earthquake capitals of the United States, but those two Pacific states are quickly being outrivaled.
And by Oklahoma of all places.
During the past few years the number of magnitude 3.0 or greater earthquakes in the Sooner State has increased by nearly 800 percent. In 2013, there were 106. In 2014, there were 585. Last year, Oklahoma officials counted 857, according to data cited by KOCO-TV.
To put the numbers into perspective, California records 15 to 20 quakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater each year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. But in the first few weeks of 2016 alone, seismologists noted eight of them in Oklahoma.
Related: Quiz:
Get the Facts About Earthquakes
So what’s causing these tremblers in a Great Plains state
known more for its farmlands and ranches than its unstable earth? According
to the
Oklahoma Geological
Survey, billions of barrels of wastewater being
disposed of in deep underground caverns as a result of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a technique that uses water to recover gas and oil from shale rock. This wastewater apparently re-awakened
old fault lines,
according
to NASA
and geological
experts.
Oklahoma state officials, including geological, utility,
insurance and energy officials, are studying the problem and working to
decrease the amount of wastewater injected into wells.
Fortunately, the earthquakes in Oklahoma have not caused
widespread, devastating damage. But some experts predict the severity could worsen
over time. If you live there, make sure your home and your family are
ready for an
earthquake.
Earthquake prep tips
Stock up on
emergency supplies. The Red Cross has an emergency
supply checklist
for any kind of disaster, whether you’re at home or if you
have to evacuate.
Identify places to
take cover.
Ready.gov recommends you “Drop,
Cover, and Hold On!” to prevent injuries. Note places in your home where you’ll
be safe from falling debris, such as under tables or desks. Then
hold onto it and cover your eyes by putting your face in your arm. Teach kids to do the same. Don’t stand in a doorway for protection — that’s a myth. If you’re outside,
move away from buildings, utility poles and wires, and drop to the ground.
Make an emergency
plan
with your family. If an earthquake happens while you’re all at
work and school, discuss how you’ll find each other. Make sure everyone has an
ICE
(in case of emergency) number
in their cellphone so emergency officials can
contact your family if you are injured.
Related: What to Do
During an Earthquake
Consider earthquake insurance
Robert Hartwig, president and economist at the Insurance
Information Institute, says many homeowners in Oklahoma are now opting for
earthquake insurance. “These are minor earthquakes, for the most part,” he
says. “What's happening is people are getting cracks here and there.”
Earthquake insurance, which is a separate policy from
traditional homeowners insurance, usually carries deductibles of 2 to 10
percent on the total value of the home, Hartwig says. So if you own a $200,000
home, a 5 percent deductible means earthquake insurance would only cover
damage over $10,000.
Be sure a policy doesn’t exclude damage that may be
caused by wastewater disposal or hydraulic fracturing. One Oklahoma
television station
recently
reported
that of the 20 to 30 earthquake insurance options for residents,
only four say in the policies they will cover damage caused by fracking.
Related: What to Do After an Earthquake
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