Indiana earthquake measured 3.8, riles heartlanders

The Associated Press reports that the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded an earthquake in Indiana on Thurs. In all, five states experienced the 3.8-magnitude Indiana earthquake, although no destruction has been reported. While “Indiana” and “earthquake” might not seem to go together, there have been numerous significant earthquakes in Indiana, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Folks have gone as far as getting paydayloans for emergency preparedness.

Indiana earthquake based north of Indianapolis

Fifty miles north of Indianapolis was where the earthquake’s epicenter was, reports U.S. Geological Survey. The quake began at 7:55 a.m. and was located approximately three miles beneath the surface. The 3.8 magnitude earthquake in Indiana only was there for a few seconds. Nevertheless, it was felt in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ohio and Illinois.

The magnitude of the earthquake wasn’t the original number reported. It was a 4.2 magnitude reported initially and then the USGS changed it to a 3.8 magnitude. Law enforcement got a ton of phone calls after all the booms that came with the Indiana earthquake although that is actually normal, as outlined by U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Randy Baldwin.

There weren’t any fault lines

Michael Hamburger, a geologist at Indiana University, told local TV station WTHR the Indiana earthquake occurred in a location that is not common for earthquakes, a location that is “seismically very quiet.” The Indiana earthquake background has to be fairly limited since there aren’t any fault lines close.

Yet as Baldwin put it, wherever stress builds up within the earth’s crust, an earthquake can follow.

Indiana’s small earthquake history

The Indiana earthquake background shows that the New Madrid earthquakes taken place in 1811 and 1812 which are the first recorded. This massive series of earthquakes is estimated at anywhere from 7.0 to 7.7 on the Richter scale. Near the Illinois border between Vincennes and Terre Haute is where the most damaging Indiana earthquake taken place on Sept 27, 1909. Homes and buildings got lots of damage done to them although it was only a 5.1 magnitude. The quake in 1909 was felt for a long stretch. Over 30,000 square miles felt it.

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