New Madrid Fault Earthquake Zone 2024. His theory is that the reelfoot fault and other rifts in the area were strained and activated only when the mississippi river valley eroded the land. There is broad agreement in the scientific community that a continuing concern exists for a major destructive earthquake in the new madrid seismic zone.
Scientists say they believe there is a 7% to 10% chance such an earthquake strikes within the new madrid seismic zone in the next 50 years. Our report examined two arguments widely cited to support assertions of high seismic hazard in the new madrid zone, as illustrated by the national seismic hazard maps.