Did not feel it, but many are reporting they did...
Felt in Chicago, Milwaukee
Last Edited: Friday, 18 Apr 2008, 7:36 AM CDT
Created: Friday, 18 Apr 2008, 5:38 AM CDT
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The New Madrid Fault
Earthquake Preparedness
A 5.4-magnitude earthquake that appeared
to rival the strongest recorded in the region rocked people up to
450 miles away early Friday, surprising residents unaccustomed to
such a powerful Midwest temblor.
The quake just before 4:37 a.m. was centered six miles from West
Salem, Ill., and 66 miles from Evansville, Ind. It was felt in such
distant cities as Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Des Moines,
Iowa, 450 miles northwest of the epicenter, but there were no early
reports of injuries or significant damage.
"It shook our house where it woke me up," said David Behm of
Philo, 10 miles south of Champaign. "Windows were rattling, and
you could hear it. The house was shaking inches. For people in
central Illinois, this is a big deal. It's not like California."
Bonnie Lucas, a morning co-host at WHO-AM in Des Moines, said
she was sitting in her office when she felt her chair move. She
grabbed her desk, and then heard the ceiling panels start to creak.
The shaking lasted about 5 seconds, she said.
The quake shook skyscrapers in Chicago's Loop, 240 miles north
of the epicenter, and in downtown Indianapolis, about 160 miles
northeast of it.
Irvetta McMurtry of Cincinnati said she felt the rattling for up
to 20 seconds.
"All of a sudden, I was awakened by this rumbling shaking,"
said McMurtry, 43. "My bed is an older wood frame bed, so the bed
started to creak and shake, and it was almost like somebody was
taking my mattress and moving it back and forth."
Lucas Griswold, a dispatcher in West Salem, said the Edwards
County sheriff's department received reports of minor damage and no
injuries.
"Oh, yeah, I felt it. It was interesting," Griswold said. "A
lot of shaking."
Indiana State Police spokesman Sgt. Todd Ringle in Evansville
said there were no immediate reports of damage.
The quake occurred in the Illinois basin-Ozark dome region,
which covers parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and
Arkansas and stretches from Indianapolis and St. Louis to Memphis,
according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The organization's Web site said earthquakes occur irregularly
in the area, and that the largest historical earthquake in the
region -- also a magnitude 5.4 -- caused damage in southern Illinois
in 1968.
The region is located in a region bordering the much more
seismically active New Madrid seismic zone, according to the
geological survey's Web site. In 1811 and 1812, the New Madrid
fault produced a series of earthquakes estimated at magnitude 7.0
or greater.
Experts say another major New Madrid quake could destroy
buildings, bridges, roads and other infrastructure, disrupt
communications and isolate areas.
Felt in Chicago, Milwaukee
Last Edited: Friday, 18 Apr 2008, 7:36 AM CDT
Created: Friday, 18 Apr 2008, 5:38 AM CDT
SideBar
Related Items
Videos
Links
Chat with Us!
Did You Feel It?
Quake Information
For More Information
The New Madrid Fault
Earthquake Preparedness
A 5.4-magnitude earthquake that appeared
to rival the strongest recorded in the region rocked people up to
450 miles away early Friday, surprising residents unaccustomed to
such a powerful Midwest temblor.
The quake just before 4:37 a.m. was centered six miles from West
Salem, Ill., and 66 miles from Evansville, Ind. It was felt in such
distant cities as Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Des Moines,
Iowa, 450 miles northwest of the epicenter, but there were no early
reports of injuries or significant damage.
"It shook our house where it woke me up," said David Behm of
Philo, 10 miles south of Champaign. "Windows were rattling, and
you could hear it. The house was shaking inches. For people in
central Illinois, this is a big deal. It's not like California."
Bonnie Lucas, a morning co-host at WHO-AM in Des Moines, said
she was sitting in her office when she felt her chair move. She
grabbed her desk, and then heard the ceiling panels start to creak.
The shaking lasted about 5 seconds, she said.
The quake shook skyscrapers in Chicago's Loop, 240 miles north
of the epicenter, and in downtown Indianapolis, about 160 miles
northeast of it.
Irvetta McMurtry of Cincinnati said she felt the rattling for up
to 20 seconds.
"All of a sudden, I was awakened by this rumbling shaking,"
said McMurtry, 43. "My bed is an older wood frame bed, so the bed
started to creak and shake, and it was almost like somebody was
taking my mattress and moving it back and forth."
Lucas Griswold, a dispatcher in West Salem, said the Edwards
County sheriff's department received reports of minor damage and no
injuries.
"Oh, yeah, I felt it. It was interesting," Griswold said. "A
lot of shaking."
Indiana State Police spokesman Sgt. Todd Ringle in Evansville
said there were no immediate reports of damage.
The quake occurred in the Illinois basin-Ozark dome region,
which covers parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and
Arkansas and stretches from Indianapolis and St. Louis to Memphis,
according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The organization's Web site said earthquakes occur irregularly
in the area, and that the largest historical earthquake in the
region -- also a magnitude 5.4 -- caused damage in southern Illinois
in 1968.
The region is located in a region bordering the much more
seismically active New Madrid seismic zone, according to the
geological survey's Web site. In 1811 and 1812, the New Madrid
fault produced a series of earthquakes estimated at magnitude 7.0
or greater.
Experts say another major New Madrid quake could destroy
buildings, bridges, roads and other infrastructure, disrupt
communications and isolate areas.
