Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari talks about earthquake hazard zones in the U.S., and the impact a powerful quake would cause in America.             
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There's a new hazard in the Heartland. 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently released a map highlighting the future risk for man-made earthquakes, and up to eight states have an increased chance to see ground shaking. 




               

A new preliminary earthquake hazard map shows an uptick in the risk of non-tectonic earthquakes all the way from southern Kansas to north Texas.   (USGS)









In particular, a new corridor spanning from north Texas to southern Kansas stands out in bright red in the GIF to the left. 

Texas Earthquakes Likely Caused by Oil and Gas Drilling, Study Says
 

Azle, Texas, which had no rercorded quakes for 150 years, felt 27 tremors from November 2013 to January 2014.  The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex continues to feel regular earthquakes.

As Science Magazine reports, earthquakes hit areas of Kansas boarding Oklahoma 192 times in the last two years; the sae counties were only hit twice in the proceeding 35 years.  For the most part, the scientific community has already reached a consensus that oil and gas operations (fracking)more specifically underground wastewarter injections, arer causing the swarm of earthquakes down the middle of the country -- the new map visualizes that knowledge.

These types of earthquakes, as opposed to those in say Caifornia, are non-tetonic and independent of large-scale subterranean movement.  Rather, earthquakes likethe hundreds cropping up over the last couple years result from the disposal of oil and gas byproductsinto the ground.
 
“This new report describes for the first time how injection-induced J(fracking) earthquakes can be incorporated into U.S. seismic hazard maps,” Mark Petersen, Chief of the USGS National Seismic Hazard Modeling Project, said. “These earthquakes are occurring at a higher rate than ever before and pose a much greater risk to people living nearby." 

If you live in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Ohio, Alabama or Arkansas, the USGS has offered a clear warning that you'll feel induced earthquakes.
Now, the likelihood that these quakes will surpass magnitude-2 levels is low; however, as the Dallas Morning News reports, engineers use USGS hazard maps to decide on building codes which insurers then consider to set their rates. 
Instead of just seeing shaking windows or a fallen lamp, you could be footing the bill for living in the new hazard hubs. 
Even worse, the USGS won't rule out the possibility of a magnitude-7 earthquake in any one of the eight states listed above. 
"I would recommend that if you live in one of these areas that you should educate those near you on actions to take in the event of an earthquake," Petersen said.