Imagine taking a wild road trip across the United States, embarking on a quest to uncover the truth about earthquakes. Buckle up and get ready for an adventure filled with spine-tingling discoveries, unnerving encounters with experts, and life-saving preparations that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Get ready for "Quakeland" by Kathryn Miles, narrated by the incredible Bernadette Dunne.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Earthquakes? Those only happen in San Francisco, right? Wrong. As it turns out, we've been tinkering with the depths of America, and Mother Earth, in her unpredictable ways, has been making some changes of her own. In "Quakeland," Miles takes us on a thrilling journey through abandoned mines in the Northwest, delves into engineering studies of Mississippi levees, uncovers the horrifying risks of earthquakes in the Northeast, and interviews the brilliant minds at the forefront of seismic research and emergency management.
Prepare to have your mind blown. You see, the era of human-induced earthquakes began back in 1962 with a disastrous incident in Colorado. Millions of gallons of chemical-weapon waste were recklessly pumped underground in the Rockies, triggering over 1,500 quakes in just seven years. Can you believe it? And that's not all. The Department of Energy plans to dump spent nuclear rods in a similar manner, raising even more concerns. Evidence of the seismic impact caused by fracking continues to mount, adding more layers to the complex puzzle of our "quakeland."
But here's the real kicker. What happens when an earthquake strikes in unexpected places? Imagine Memphis, home of FedEx's massive hub, going offline due to an earthquake along the unstable Reelfoot Fault. It's not just a hypothetical scenario. FEMA estimates that a moderate 7.0 magnitude quake, which happens around twenty times a year globally, along the Wasatch Fault under Salt Lake City would cost us a staggering $33 billion. That's a hefty dent in our economy, to say the least. And let's not even get started on the potential fallout of a disaster at New York's Indian Point nuclear power plant, which could displace ten million people. How on earth would we even begin to evacuate such a densely populated area?
Get ready to have your world turned upside down as Kathryn Miles takes you on a captivating tour of our land. From heart-stopping anecdotes to eye-opening facts, "Quakeland" is as fascinating as it is frightening. So, grab your headphones, find a cozy spot, and listen to Bernadette Dunne bring this mesmerizing audiobook to life. You won't be able to tear yourself away from this compelling true story of humanity's role in shaping our unpredictable quakeland.
