GREENE CO. – Local emergency management officials and first responders gathered Tuesday at the Wright Township Fire Department to prepare for what experts say is an inevitable natural disaster: a major earthquake along the New Madrid and Wabash Valley fault lines.
“The New Madrid Fault Earthquake is a sure thing and can be extremely devastating,” warned Greene County Emergency Management Agency Director Roger Axe during the annual Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) training exercise. “What we do now to prepare will save lives and reduce damages.”
Greene County sits in the second-highest risk zone for severe damage from the predicted earthquake, which experts estimate could reach between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Richter Scale. Such a quake could cause widespread destruction, including:
- Ruptured gas lines
- Countywide electrical outages lasting days or weeks
- Significant infrastructure damage
The exercise, held between Linton and Jasonville, brought together a broad coalition of emergency responders and community leaders, including:
- American Red Cross
- NSA Crane representatives
- Greene County General Hospital officials
- Multiple law enforcement agencies
- Fire departments
- School resource officers
- Utility companies (Texas Gas and UDWI REMC)
- Local government officials
- Amateur radio operators
- Media representatives
The next training exercise has been scheduled for October 26, 2025, at the Greene County Fairgrounds’ Event Center. Officials encourage residents to visit ready.gov/earthquakes for additional earthquake preparedness information.
The exercise fulfills the LEPC’s annual requirement to test emergency response plans while fostering crucial coordination between various agencies that would be essential during a major disaster. Given Greene County’s vulnerable location along two major fault lines, officials emphasize that such preparation is not merely a drill but a vital step in protecting the community.
