ST. LOUIS — A Tubi original movie called Continental Split dramatizes the threat of the New Madrid fault, which has a 25-40% chance of a magnitude six or greater earthquake in the next 50 years.
In Missouri’s Bootheel, there are small earthquakes along the New Madrid fault almost every day. The active seismic zone is the location of a series of quakes from 1811-1812 with magnitudes of 7.5 on the Richter scale. Some of them were felt on the east coast of the United States.
Continental Split is dramatizing what would happen if the fault threatened to rip North America in two. A team of seismologists and government agents race to prevent disaster. Its sort of like the movie Twister, but with earthquakes.
There are scenes of mass destruction as Jefferson City is hit with a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, and St. Louis buckles under an 8.6 magnitude quake. Sinkholes swallow homes, and cars as floodwaters spill over the ruined cities.
Missouri’s Capitol Dome is taken out by wall of water while the governor demands someone do something on the phone. Tall buildings in St. Louis smoke and topple as the earthquakes roll on.
Will the quakes split the US? The team of scientists in the movie has a plan and there is a sort of happy ending to the story, despite the thousands of deaths. You can watch this Tubi original movie for free here.
Despite the theatrics, the New Madrid fault poses a real threat to the people who live nearby. There is a 25 to 40 percent chance of a magnitude six or greater earthquake from the New Madrid Zone in the next 50 years. The chances for a magnitude seven or greater is between 7-10 percent.
