Many of us in the Chicago/Northern Illinois area were awakened by an earthquake this morning. It was centered near Elgin, IL, about 40 miles WNW of Chicago. Estimated at 4.3, but details are changing as I write. Follow me down for the latest.
They now say it was centered about 40 miles NE of the city in a town called Pingree Grove. Originally they thought it was centered a few miles south and east. At a magnitude of 3.8, down from 4.3. It hit at 3:59am. It woke most people in the area. There was no reported damage or injury, but it is a stark reminder of Nature's power.
People described it as a feeling of an explosion nearby, or a huge truck passing right in front of the house. I'm sometimes awakened by the cat jumping on the bed with all the accompanying vibrations. This was stronger. More like a lion jumping on the bed. This earthquake was centerd on the Wabash spur of the New Madrid Fault. That's new mad-rid. Not new mah-drid. Like Cairo,IL in far southern Illinois is kay-ro. Not ki-ro. There's your rural and downstate Illinois at work right there!
http://cbs2chicago.com/...
The New Madrid Fault is one of the largest fault lines in the US, and rarely heard from. Oh, a rumble here and there but not much recent activity. It did however unleash its fury in 1811-1812. The quakes were so strong that church bells were said to ring in Boston from the vibration. That's one of the ways they are able to judge magnitude. At that time Tecumseh, a Shawnee leader was fighting for independence and the earthquake was seen as a sign by the other tribes that he was trying to unite into a Tribal Confederacy aligned against the United States and their endless expansion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
This was a small, but significant reminder of the power of Mother Earth. When other areas get hit with an earthquake it has been devastating. Haiti is still in need. Here's a link to a list of Organizations working in Haiti.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Anyone else feel the quake and want to share?