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Press Release: April 1, 2004
Author Sam Penny Presents
Signed Copies of Memphis 7.9 to Memphis Public Library
Memphis, TN - The Memphis-Shelby
County Public Library today received ten copies of the novel
Memphis 7.9 signed by Sam Penny, the author. Book 1 of The 7.9
Scenario series describes what happens to the United States when
a great earthquake strikes on the New Madrid Fault, 45 miles
northwest of Memphis, as it did in 1811 and 1812.
"The question that should
be asked is what happens to our cities, our land, and our society
when, not if, a great earthquake once again fractures the New
Madrid Fault in the central United States," Penny says.
"Seismologists agree such an event is inevitable, and though
they disagree on the timing, they estimate there is a 7 to 10%
chance it will happen sometime within the next 50 years. It could
happen next week." Through the eyes of those who are there,
Memphis 7.9 tells of attempts to predict the earthquake and of
the effects across the country when the earthquake happens. Penny
adds, "Most people do not realize the extent of the catastrophe
that will happen."
Janet Majilton, Collection Development
Officer for Memphis-Shelby County Public Libraries, received
the books as a gift to the Library.
Penny continues, "My analysis
of USGS and FEMA numbers indicate that Shelby County could feel
high intensity shaking lasting for more than a minute from a
7.9 magnitude event. Damage would be catastrophic. Destroyed
buildings, liquefaction, broken pipes and wires, and landslides
would be found all across the county. Fires would be left to
burn themselves out and industry would be shattered. Casualties
would number in the tens of thousands.
"I chose to present the
results of my studies as fiction instead of a stale scientific
treatise to reach the public, help them understand the danger,
and hopefully, help them learn what they can do now to mitigate
some of the risk of living near an active fault, the most dangerous
fault in the United States."
The Memphis-Shelby County Public
Library, serving an area of over one million residents, has a
collection of 1,725,593 items, 1,469,756 of which circulate,
including books, periodicals, CDs, records, cassettes and other
audio materials, and video items such as DVDs and VHS tapes.
Internet terminals are available for use by the general public.
The Library also operates the WYPL radio station at FM 89.3.
Staffing consists of 400 employees,
including fully accredited librarians, plus volunteers. The system
comprises the central library, twenty-two branches throughout
Shelby County, and the traveling Infobus. Patrons checked out
materials 3,479,606 times in the past fiscal year.
The 7.9 Scenario is a series
of four novels scheduled for publication in 2003 through 2005.
Visit Sam Penny's website at www.the79scenario.com for information
about the book series and more facts about earthquakes on the
New Madrid Fault. Visit www.the79survivor.com to learn more about
what can be done to mitigate the risks. |
