Residents of numerous Midwestern cities, to include such metropolitan areas as St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Evansville and Louisville, felt the earth move early in the morning on April 18.
The jolts which centered in southern Illinois rumbled throughout the region to include parts of Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Kentucky, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. 
This latest 5.2 magnitude earthquake clearly demonstrates the Midwest can be just as vulnerable to major seismic activity as more notable locations in the United States.
To prepare for a likely significant earthquake in the Central U.S., a regional conference will be held Aug. 12 to 14 at the Missouri S&T campus, Rolla. 
Hosting the event will be the USGS Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center, Missouri University of Science and Technology, the Geology and Land Survey Division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the State of Missouri Emergency Management Agency and the Society of American Military Engineers are hosting a three-day conference that will bring together academia, government, non-government agencies and the private sector to address the current and forecasted science needs of the response and recovery community.
Keynote speakers for the event include U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, State Adjutant Gen. Maj. Gen. King Sidwell and SEMA Director Ron Reynolds. 
In addition to science and recovery sessions, certified emergency management training and demonstrations from the local Civil Support Teams will be offered to conference participants.
For a more information, a detailed agenda or to register on line, go to:  newmadridconf.mst.edu.