Indiana earthquake felt in five states

The Associated Press accounts that the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded an earthquake in Indiana on Thurs. The 3.8-magnitude quake did zero damage, but people were surely frightened. While “Indiana” and “earthquake” may not seem to go together, there have been a number of significant earthquakes in Indiana, as outlined by the USGS. Individuals have gone as far as applying for payday loans for emergency preparedness. Source for this article – Indiana earthquake measures 3.8, riles heartlanders by MoneyBlogNewz.

Indiana earthquake based north of Indianapolis

Fifty miles north of Indianapolis was where the earthquake’s epicenter was, accounts USGS. At 7:55 a.m., the quake began. It was 3 miles below ground. Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Wisconsin all experienced the Indiana earthquake although it only lasted a few seconds and had a magnitude of 3.8.

The USGS reported the Indiana earthquake at 4.2 magnitude before changing it to a 3.8 magnitude. The booms that accompanied the earthquake in Indiana, while frightening, were not out of the ordinary for an earthquake, said U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Randy Baldwin, however that didn’t stop people from bombarding law enforcement with calls.

Fault lines were not there

A region that is “seismically very quiet” and is not a common place for earthquakes is where the Indiana earthquake occurred, geologist at Indiana University, Michael Hamburger, told local Television station WTHR. There are zero close fault lines near the area. It makes no sense that an Indiana earthquake history might even be there.

An earthquake can take place anywhere stress builds up in earth’s crust, claims Baldwin.

Earthquake background in Indiana

The first recorded Indiana earthquakes were the New Madrid earthquakes. These occurred in 1811 and 1812. This massive series of earthquakes is estimated at anywhere from 7.0 to 7.7 on the Richter scale. Sept 27, 1909 was when probably the most damaging Indiana earthquake taken place. It was between Vincennes and Terre Haute near the Illinois border. The earthquake was a 5.1 magnitude. Still, homes and buildings got a lot of destruction done to them. The 1909 quake was felt over 30,000 square miles.

Articles cited

Chicago Tribune

chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-indianaearthquake,0,6548124.story

USGS

earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/indiana/history.php

Local TV coverage of Indiana earthquake

youtube.com/watch?v=WCXt2NilqoI