Seismologists from SMU plan to install equipment in Irving Monday after a recent rash of minor earthquakes around Highways 114 and 183 鈥� near the old Texas Stadium site and the city鈥檚 only producing gas well.
Irving City Manager Chris Hillman says it was time to call in the experts.
鈥淭he frequency seems to have increased over the past month, month-and-a-half," Hillman says. "So therefore we鈥檙e asking the experts from SMU to come in and help assist. They鈥檙e going to be bringing in some additional equipment to help monitor and get more information if another earthquake were to occur.鈥�
Hillman says SMU seismologists will update the city on the new monitoring and what to anticipate at the Jan. 15 City Council meeting. He expects the City Council chambers will be packed with northeast Irving residents who鈥檝e felt the ground shaking a lot recently.
鈥淲e understand their questions," Hillman says. "And we understand their concerns. And the city is being very proactive in bringing in the folks that know and understand those issues to help give us the information that we need. The well-being and safety of our residents in paramount."
There have been several small earthquakes over the past three months.
SMU experts are also monitoring activity in the Azle area, where there's been a swarm of quakes. The quakes in and near Azle are considered relatively small, but they鈥檝e been large enough to cause damage and raise alarm. Both the mayors of Reno and Azle believe there is a link to the disposal wells from oil and gas drilling in the area.
An answer to what鈥檚 causing the earthquakes in Azle and Irving is not expected anytime soon.
Learn more: 四虎影院 earthquake coverage
四虎影院 has been exploring the North Texas earthquakes in recent months.
