Earthquake!

my wife felt it this morning (I was sleeping) in Columbia, MO

The epicenter was 100 mile south/southeast of St Louis..  so southern Illinios

Josh

Nothing felt in Rockford.  What time did it happen? 

If I recall geology class in college correctly we were told of an 1800's earthquake in the St. Louis area that was so strong the Mississippi River flowed north for a few hours.  Okay so I think the river thing is a myth (or at least an exageration) but let's hope a large scale earthquake doesn't happen in that area as I wouldn't think any buildings are built to withstand one.

The epicenter was West Salem, IL.  About 300 miles South of Chicago.

Over the New Madrid fault.  From what I understand, the fault line is actually worse than the San Andreas fault line, however, since a major metropolis does not site right on top of it, it won't do as much damage.  That being said, if that bad boy ever lets loose a 6.0 or greater, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Louisville, Memphis, Chicago and a few other larger cities that surround it are in for quite a ride.

tupuppy, you are right.  The 1880 quake was supposedly the strongest on record in the US and I think, possibly the world (haven't verified it yet so that could be wrong) but since it is in the middle of nowhere, only one person died.

Correction.  The quake happened in 1812.  It was 8.0 on the scale. 

Per Wikipedia.

There are estimates that the earthquakes were felt strongly over 50,000 square miles (130,000 km², and moderately across nearly one million square miles. The historic San Francisco earthquake of 1906, by comparison, was felt moderately over 6,000 square miles (16,000 km².

Felt it!

the worst part was that today was my day off from training. i normally get up at about 4:40AM.  wouldn't you know this SOB starts shaking the house at 4:38AM.

grrrr....

~B

Wow. Gaia burped.

The epicenter isn't far from Effingham. I'm sure we have a BTer in Effingham. I think so...

If I remember correctly, there were actually at least three huge earthquakes over a period of a couple months during the winter of 1811-1812. 

Hope everyone is ok, 5.2 is quite a jolt if you are anywhere near the epicenter.

I just noticed the time of this earthquake - 4:36am.   Why does it seem like earthquakes usually happen early in the morning????  I hate that.

So is everyone in the area getting calls from every family member outside of the area, asking if everyone is ok.  When we first moved to CA. everytime there was a tremor (anywhere in Ca. didn't matter if it was hundreds of miles away) our family in MO, CO or TX...would call frantically wondering if we were ok.  Usually we were like, huh?  what earthquake? 

You are correct.  2 in 1811 and the really big one in 1812.  Supposedly the aftershocks from the 1812 quake lasted months. 

I'm glad I live in the NW and 50 miles from a volcano....Midwest is to unstable.

Hope everyone is ok that lives out there.

Do they know if it was it the new Madrid fault?

I grew up in STL and I felt about a half dozen.  Some say that since there hasn't been a big quake for a long time to release tensions, that the New Madrid may go, and go in a BIG way.  Shake the water out of the Mississippi they say.....  Hold on tight..... 

Correction.  1 one is 1811 and two in 1812.