How likely is an earthquake in Kentucky? The Big One could be coming

It's not if a massive earthquake will hit Kentucky but, rather, when. 

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake early Wednesday morning in Decatur, Tennessee, was felt in Kentucky as far north as Bowling Green, Somerset and Dale Hollow Lake. 

John Bobel, a public information officer for the division of emergency management in Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, said the Tennesee earthquake should be a reality check. 

"A 4.4 magnitude earthquake is a reminder for people to be prepared," Bobel said. 

Bobel's right. As many Kentucky natives know, the Bluegrass State is at risk of getting hit by an earthquake because of the New Madrid Seismic Zone. 

The New Madrid Seismic Zone stretches 150 miles and can threaten Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and several other states across the Southeast and Midwest.

From Wednesday:Tennessee earthquake was felt in Kentucky. Did you feel it?

In 2008, the U.S. government announced that an earthquake on the New Madrid Seismic Zone could cause "widespread and catastrophic" damage in the area and "the highest economic losses due to a natural disaster in the United States," according to Reuters.

"The big thing we prepare for is with New Madrid," Bobel said. "Depending on the significance of an earthquake, Memphis, Tennesee, would be gone, St. Louis would be wrecked."

Earthquakes on the New Madrid Seismic Zone have hit Kentucky before, as recently as the 20th century.

On Nov. 9, 1968, a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in the seismic zone hit near Dale, Illinois. The aftermath even damaged the civic building in Henderson, Kentucky.

It was the largest earthquake ever recorded on the New Madrid Seismic Zone. 

And a series of earthquakes in the New Madrid zone in 1812 caused the Mississippi River to flow backward for several hours, according to history.com.

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So, what could that look like today? Well, Bobel didn't sugarcoat it. It would be bad for Kentucky. 

"Anything west of I-65, infrastructure would be severely damaged," Bobel said. "The ground could even liquify and turn to mud." 

And how likely is it?

Seismologists estimate that the New Madrid Seismic Zone has a 25 percent to 40 percent chance of producing a significant quake within the next 50 years, according to Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.

So, we're saying there's a chance. Remember, most earthquake injuries come from falling objects and debris, not the actual movement of the ground. To prepare your home, here are some tips from Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.

• Fasten shelves, mirrors, picture frames and similar objects securely to walls – preferably not over beds, sofas, or other places you may sit.
• Secure tall furniture, such as bookcases and filing cabinets, to wall studs or masonry. Use flexible straps that will allow the furniture to sway without toppling. Also, secure expensive electronic devices such as televisions.
• Secure appliances such as your refrigerator and water heater with straps connected to wall studs.
• Store heavy or breakable objects on lower shelves, or in cabinets with latched doors.
• Have a professional assess your home’s structure for quake vulnerabilities, then repair or reinforce any damaged or weak points.