Earthquake… in Illinois?
A 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook up the Midwest at 4:37 a.m. Friday morning. While the quake may not be that big by West Coast standards, it was one of the strongest ever in Illinois. It was centered near the town of West Salem and was felt as far as 900 miles (1448 km) away. There have been no reports of injuries or significant damage.
Tremors from the initial quake could be felt even here in Chicago for about 20 seconds. Several people reported being awakened by rattling windows and shaking furniture. Downtown skyscrapers quivered, and bricks shook loose from buildings in Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and Louisville.
If that weren't enough, the U.S. Geological Survey reported at least six aftershocks, including registered magnitudes of 2.2, 2.5, and 4.6.
Seem impossible? The quake is believed to have involved an extension of the New Madrid fault, the center of the most active seismic zone east of the Rockies. To be honest, most of us Midwesterners know about this fault, but we forget about it. That's because serious quakes usually only occur every 10-20 years. (The last 'severe' earthquake in the region was a 5.0 magnitude in 2002.)
Although they may be infrequent, the earthquakes in the central and eastern U.S. are typically felt over a much broader region. In fact, an earthquake can be felt over an area ten times larger than one of the same magnitude on the West Coast.
As you can imagine, the earthquake has been the top news for cities throughout the Midwest. State crews investigated roads and bridges but only reported minor damage. Here in Chicago, it was a busy day for building inspectors, contractors, building owners, and CTA officials. There were emergency inspections of high-rises and construction sites throughout the city, as well as inspections on subway tunnels and 'eL' tracks.
Chicagoans had mixed reactions to the whole thing. Some were frightened, not understanding what was going on. Many woke up to the shaking, but in their grogginess, they simply rolled over and went back to sleep, assuming they had been dreaming.
And me? I slept right through it all!
Photo credit: USGS
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1 opinion for Earthquake… in Illinois?
Douglas Karr
Apr 20, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I woke up thinking that my dog was scratching himself and shaking the bed. I yelled at him to stop but the bed didn’t stop shaking. I jumped up and checked the doors and scratched my head. I thought I was going nuts that my bed was shaking. :)
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