Small Earthquake Hits Near Chicago

[amyrose2712]

Small Earthquake Hits Near Chicago

By JENNIFER PRESTON and JACK HEALY
Published: February 10, 2010

A small earthquake in northern Illinois set off car alarms, knocked books off the shelves and jolted scores of people awake at 4 a.m. Wednesday, but otherwise caused no serious damage, officials said.

The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake, which had an estimated magnitude of 4.3, was centered near Virgil, about 50 miles northwest of Chicago, at a depth of about three miles. There were no immediate reports of aftershocks.

(snip)

Amy Vaughan, a geophysicist with the agency, said that the tremor was only the second notable earthquake in more than 30 years to rattle the area. Even though the quake was relatively small, it was felt by residents as far away as southern Wisconsin, according to news reports.

“This is not a very seismically active area,” Ms. Vaughan said. “We don’t know what fault system this is, but there are faults everywhere throughout the world that can slip at any given time.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/us/11chicago.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[Berry Cool]

1. Ah, that's nothin'.

Northeast Ohio got a 5.0 earthquake in '86.

[dalaigh lllama]

2. It evidently woke up a lot of people around here, including my husband.

I slept right thru it.

[MadHound]

3. Let's hope that this isn't a prelude to something bigger going off further south

When New Madrid goes, we're all going to be in a world of hurt, from Arkansas and Missouri east to Ohio or further.

Last time it let loose was two hundred years ago, rang bells back in Boston, Mississippi flow backwards, still have lakes around that it created. Luckily it wasn't a populated area at that time.

If you live in part of the area that would be effected by New Madrid, get earthquake insurance, it's quite cheap and could come in very handy since it is not a matter of "if" but "when".

[nevergiveup]

4. I thought someone had crashed into my garage.

It was sort of scary. I ran outside in 10 degree temperatures checking my condo and was wearing only boxer shorts and slippers. I didn't stay long.

[pipi_k]

5. Just a matter of time before

the usual suspects claim it's punishment from God for Obama...

[surrealAmerican]

6. I didn't even notice it.

Of course, we had snowplows running up and down the street all night, so that may have something to with it.

[nemo137]

7. I was awake for it.

We had a tiny earthquake a couple years ago, too. Nothing too big. I guess not enough to count as "notable."