Is Indiana About to Fall into the Ocean? Some Thoughts on Seismicity in the Central and Eastern United States

Most people lump earthquakes in the continental United States into a group that includes surfing, the Twinkie Defense, the Kardashians, and the OJ trial: that is, things that can only happen in California.  However, as the 2008 Mt. Carmel, Illinois earthquake and the 2011 Mineral, Virginia earthquake have demonstrated, earthquakes in America are not limited to the west coast. Professor Polito will discuss the cause and history of earthquakes in the Central and Eastern United States, as well as the likelihood of future events and what that may mean for those of us living in the Midwest. He serves as professor of civil engineering at Valpo, where he researches how soils behave during earthquakes.  Raised in Southern California, he moved east to escape earthquakes.  He really should have known better.