by Laura Geggel, Staff Writer of LifeScience.com
"Parts of 42 states are at risk of earthquakes during the next 50 years, according to a new report from the U.S. Geological Survey. The report includes updated maps that show geologists' predictions of where & how often future earthquakes may occur, & how strongly they may shake the ground.
Many of the at-risk states are in the country's western half, but the map also highlights hotspots in the Midwest & Southeast. There are 16 states that have regions labeled as being at high risk for seismic activity, because they have histories of earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 6.0 or greater: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington & Wyoming." [Image Gallery: This Millennium's Destructive Earthquakes]
Many of the at-risk states are in the country's western half, but the map also highlights hotspots in the Midwest & Southeast. There are 16 states that have regions labeled as being at high risk for seismic activity, because they have histories of earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 6.0 or greater: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington & Wyoming." [Image Gallery: This Millennium's Destructive Earthquakes]