Wandtv.com, NewsCenter17, StormCenter17, Central Illinois News-U.S. Geological Survey says earthquake was a wake-up call
Member Center:
The epicenter of Friday's earthquake is located 6 miles southeast of West Salem in southern Illinois.
The U.S. Geological survey said the quake happened at 4:37a.m. and was moderate in size. The initial earthquake lasted only about a few seconds.
Officially it was 5.2 magnitude. The first aftershock happened at 5:03 a.m. at 2.5 magnitude.
Three more aftershocks followed: at 5:15 a.m. with 2.5 magnitude, 6:55 a.m. was 2.6 magnitude and the one at 10:14 a.m. was 4.6 magnitude.
It was felt in at least four states, as far west as Kansas and as far south as Georgia.
While for some people the earthquake was something they didn't think was possible experts in the area say it could've been even bigger.
The Mid-America Earthquake Center is located on the University of Illinois campus and the director there has been working for years on a plan to deal with disasters in the mid-west.
Amr Elnashai, Director of Mid-America Earthquake Center said, "We had the teleconference with the directors of the NRCC, the National Response Coalition Committee, and it has been mobilized fully. Some states are on level 3 alert, some states are on level 1alert, but the whole plan was tested in today's earthquake."
While today's earthquake originated at the Wabash Valley fault the biggest concern is the New Madrid fault.
Experts say an earthquake there could top out at 8.2 and cause billions of damage from Chicago down into the south.
With no major damage to people or property so far, the state does not expect to make a federal disaster declaration.
But the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is busy making sure everyone stays safe. That includes checking bridges and roads.
Authorities say earthquakes rarely happen, so they're learning from this experience.
And we're all learning that this quake's aftershocks may last longer than you might expect.
"Typically, a week or so, but we're still going to have really small ones that most people will not feel, those are the aftershocks," said Bob Bauer, Illinois Geological Survey.
The state also warns homeowners to check your insurance polices. Earthquake damage is often not included in the coverage.
