"The ground east of the Rockies is far more likely to shake this year with damaging though not deadly earthquakes, federal seismologists report in a new risk map for 2016.
Much of that risk is a man-made byproduct of drilling for energy, experts say.
The new risk assessment, which for the first time identifies potential ground-shaking hazards from induced and natural earthquakes, shows that residents in North Texas are as likely to feel the earth move in 2016 as people living in some parts of California, said a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
“It is much higher because the earthquake rates have been higher than normal over the last six years,” said Rob Williams, the agency’s coordinator for the earthquake program for the central and eastern United States."
Seth Borenstein reports for the Associated Press March 28, 2016.
SEE ALSO:
"7 Million Americans At Risk Of Man-Made Earthquakes, USGS Says" (Washington Post)
Map: "Risk Of Quakes On The Rise In Oklahoma, North Texas"
Source: AP, 03/29/2016
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