Every once in a while, Laclede Gas company has to replace the gas meter outside (ours is scheduled for next week). That got me thinking about Earthquakes, how much I like our home, and that we really should have an automatic shutoff valve installed on our gas line. So I started researching the issue. I've lived through several mild earthquakes in my lifetime here in St. Louis. It's good to be prepared for such an event, and the bigger one that will probably occur in the near future... "If you live in Missouri or Illinois, you stand a good chance of experiencing a moderate to severe earthquake in your lifetime.
The New Madrid Fault Zone, part of a seven-state network of fault systems, is considered the most active seismic zone east of the Rocky Mountains. It has a 25-40% probability of producing a magnitude 6.0 to 7.5 earthquake at any time during the next 50 years." That's from a publication on the Laclede web site can be found here.
You can also visit the St. Louis University Earthquake Center web site. By the way, I called Laclede, and they don't provide automatic gas shutoff valves. They have to be purchased separately, and installed by a Plumber, HVAC contractor, etc. 73, Keith Little NØTY
