calsfoundation@cals.org
December 3, 1990
National media attention was drawn to the New Madrid seismic zone in 1990 when the late Iben Browning, described as a retired climatologist and business consultant, predicted a fifty-fifty chance of a major quake on December 3, 1990, based upon his theory of lunar pull and tidal patterns. While there was some minor panic as December 3 approached, and though the day passed without event, Browning is credited with bringing increased earthquake awareness and disaster preparation to the region.