A weak earthquake rattled northeastern Arkansas early this morning according to USGS, not far from the heart of the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ). According to USGS, the earthquake struck near Pleasant Plains between Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee at 12:25 am from a depth of 4 km; it was rated a weak magnitude 1.8 event. Generally, earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0 or greater can be felt by most people. Earthquakes generally need a much greater intensity than that to do any harm.

This earthquake was the 14th to strike in Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee near the Mississippi River Valley in the last 7 days.

While last night’s earthquake was relatively inconsequential with no damage reports, authorities are concerned that people aren’t properly prepared for when a big earthquake will strike this region. The matter of a larger destructive earthquake in this area is more of a matter of “when” rather than “if.” The NMSZ has a violent history that experts say will repeat itself, although no one is sure when it’ll happen.