Latest news with #MarkWilbanks
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
4.1-magnitude earthquake shakes East Tennessee and Knoxville
A 4.1-magnitude earthquake shook Knoxville and East Tennessee at 9:04 a.m. ET May 10, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake originated near Greenback, Tennessee, which is 30 miles southwest of Knoxville. The USGS indicated the earthquake centered approximately 12.4 miles southeast of Greenback. The earthquake was about 15 miles deep, the USGS says, which is considered a shallow quake. It was the seventh earthquake with a 4.0 magnitude or greater since 1900 and the first since a 4.4-magnitude quake hit Decatur in 2018. The largest earthquake in East Tennessee since 1900 was a 4.7-magnitude quake in Alcoa in 1973. The Knoxville Fire Department did not receive any reports of damage, spokesman Mark Wilbanks said, nor did the Knoxville Police Department. After effects: Will there be an earthquake aftershock? Check the prediction The earthquake is not unusual. In the past 30 days, Tennessee has recorded 21 earthquakes of lesser magnitudes. In the past year in Tennessee, there were only three others that exceeded a magnitude of 3.0, according to USGS data. The USGS has already received many reports with reports coming from as far as Asheville, North Carolina. Knoxville sits in the East Tennessee Seismic Zone, one of the most active earthquake areas in the Southeast United States. The East Tennessee Seismic Zone covers part of Tennessee, northwestern Georgia and into northeastern Alabama. The area is not known to have major earthquakes, but does have seismic activity. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced the Foothills Parkway West (the new section) is closed. It will be inspected by the Federal Highway Administration. 4.7 magnitude – Alcoa (1973) 4.5 magnitude – Greenville (1928) 4.4 magnitude – Decatur (2018) 4.2 magnitude – Vonore (1987) 4.1 magnitude – Greenback (2025) 4.1 magnitude – Luttrell (1913) 4.1 magnitude – New Tazewell (1956) 3.8 magnitude – Tazewell (1997) 3.8 magnitude – Fincastle (2020) 3.7 magnitude – Ducktown (1979) 3.7 magnitude – Tellico Plains (1995) This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 4.1-magnitude earthquake shakes East Tennessee and Knoxville
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Knoxville Fire Department using new siren to target distracted drivers
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knoxville Fire Department is implementing a deeper decibel siren in their newer staff cars and fleet vehicles. 'We will typically use that federal cue sirens, that's that long wind up siren that your hear and that does get a lot of attention,' Knoxville Assistant Fire Chief Mark Wilbanks said. 'That runs at about 85 decibels maybe 90 decibels and then the low frequency when you're at intersections or high traffic areas.' Knoxville families discover rental scam days after moving into home The sirens will not replace the standard sirens you are used to hearing. 'That doesn't replace the traditional federal cues sirens that you hear that sounds just like a firetruck,' Wilbanks said. 'These sirens are really designed to give that occupant of the vehicle that's in front of you or at the intersection a little more awareness that there is an emergency vehicle coming your way.' 'The purpose of the deeper decibel siren is to target drivers who are distracted. When you approach an intersection, and that sirens energized that more people seem to be more aware. Of course drivers stay distracted pretty regularly on their phones, different things like that,' Wilbanks said. 'One of the biggest things is that low frequency, it almost kind of shakes you in your vehicle and you kind of look up and try to see what's going on around you.' Were fish affected by Helene? Biologists conduct survey at Douglas Lake Wilbanks also reminds people of the Move Over Law. If you see a vehicle working on scene, you are suppose to move to an adjacent lane and slow down. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
