Oklahoma has been hit with more than 20,000 (yes 20,000!) earthquakes since 2009. And more than 2,000 of these earthquakes have been greater than 3.0 magnitude, and more than 60 of those have been greater than magnitude 4.0. Despite the actions taken by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, 2016 saw the most devastating earthquakes yet, with massive damage in cities like Pawnee, Oklahoma and Cushing, Oklahoma where residents had to be evacuated from their homes.
Oklahoma Sierra Club believes that increased earthquake activity threatens Oklahomans’ health, safety, individual and business property, and public infrastructure (schools, roads, bridges, dams, public utilities). We are unprepared for environmental disasters that will occur if earthquakes rupture aging pipelines and storage facilities. Oklahoma is RIDDLED with thousands of miles of pipeline, NONE of which was built to any earthquake standards.
There are several actions you can take to help out as we endure this crisis:
1) LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! Below is the information needed to contact the Governor, the Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners, and your legislators!
Oklahoma Corporation Commission: (405) 521-2211
The Office of the Secretary of Energy and Environment, (405) 522-7099
The Office of the Governor: (405) 521-2342
The House switchboard at (405) 521-2711 or (800) 522-8502
The Senate switchboard at (405) 524-0126
2) Sierra Club KNOWS that fracking lies at the HEART of the earthquake surge—horizontal fracking and the wastewater it eventually produces BOTH cause earthquakes. Read our fracking policy here and then BECOME A MEMBER of Oklahoma Sierra Club and JOIN US at our upcoming fracking and conservation meetings.
IT IS VITAL that scientists have good data, and that groups like Sierra Club do too! If you feel an earthquake, REPORT IT!