A magnitude 3.7 earthquake was detected in southeast Missouri Tuesday – a reminder that Missouri is host to the most geologically active zone east of the Rocky Mountains, and made last months earthquake drills time well spent. The earthquake was recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey at 1:37pm Tuesday afternoon at a depth of just over 3 miles, some 15 miles east-southeast of Sikeston and was felt as far north as Alton in Illinois and St. Peters in the Westplex.   No damage was reported.  

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is continuing to watch for aftershocks with the State Emergency Management Agency and the Center for Earthquake Information in Memphis, Tennessee. Missouri State Geologist Joe Gillman, the Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Geology and Land Surveys said, “Given its relatively shallow depth and its magnitude, it’s no surprise that it was felt so far away. Just last month, Governor Jay Nixon joined Gillman and a group of public safety, emergency response and law enforcement officials in New Madrid for a summit on earthquake preparedness.  The roundtable was convened to discuss strategies for strengthening Missouri’s readiness for a potential quake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone.