Students on a field trip to the St. Louis Science Center, Friday morning, experienced what an earthquake might feel like on an earthquake simulator.
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Earthquake and Aftershocks Rattle St. Louis Area
By Bob Moore, SLFP.com
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), April 18, 2008 - Early Friday morning, the day before Earth Day Celebrations, St. Louisians received an wakeup call, at 4:37 a.m., from Mother Nature with a 5.2 magnitude earthquake.
The epicenter was located five miles northeast of Bellmont, IL on the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. The Southeastern Illinois area is about 127 miles east of St. Louis. However, shaking was felt as far north as Chicago, south in Atlanta and as far west as St. Joseph, Missouri.
Waves from the quake were registered on a seismograph at the St. Louis Science Center. In an interview at the Science Center, Rachael Debold, Life Science Gallery Director, said that "Even though we only felt the waves for a few seconds, the waves actually traveled for quite some time, perhaps 15 to 20 minutes."
"Aftershocks will vary depending on how far down the quake occurred. This one was perhaps only about 3.1 miles down, which is pretty shallow," explained Debold.
"Because of the geology of our area, any quake east of the Rockies that is larger than 5.2, will be felt in a much broader area than that of the same magnitude in California," explained Debold.
Illinois experiences one earthquake annually, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the nation's leading authority on earthquakes. The last quake to cause damage measured 5.0 in magnitude and occurred near Lawrenceville and Olney in 1987.
USGS seismologists estimate chances that a quake measuring 6.3 or greater will strike the Midwest in the next 15 years at 40 percent to 63 percent. That likelihood jumps to 100 percent in the next 50 years.
"Most buildings are constructed to last 50 years or longer, and some families live in the same homes for generations," said IBHS President & CEO Julie Rochman. "Given the predictions, we owe it to ourselves, our families and our communities to view this latest earthquake activity as a reminder of the need to build stronger and safer."
Structural damage to wood-frame homes and light-frame commercial structures typically occurs at much higher ground motion levels than experienced in today's event, which likely produced damage to interior contents and belongings as things fell off shelves and furniture overturned.
For existing homes and businesses, IBHS offers the following guidance to protect interior valuables and appliances. Step-by-step information for completing these low-cost, primarily do-it-yourself projects is available at www.DisasterSafety.org:
- Fit all gas appliances with flexible connections. Know where the main shutoff valve is located and how to turn it off.
- Anchor large appliances, especially water heaters, to walls using safety cables or straps.
- Lock the rollers of any large appliances or pieces of furniture.
- Anchor bookcases and filing cabinets to nearby walls.
- Install latches on drawers and cabinet doors to keep contents from spilling.
- Attach computers and small appliances to desks, tables or countertops.
MoDOT Inspects 2,500 Bridges After Earthquake
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), April 18, 2008 - Since this morning's earthquake, Missouri Department of Transportation bridge inspectors have been out in force examining all state bridges in the eastern part of the state that may have been affected. So far, no damage has been found.
Inspectors are examining about 2,500 bridges located in the eastern third of the state. Major river crossings are the top priority, followed by bridges on major highways, and then the bridges on minor routes. All inspections will be complete by the end of the day.
"Our top priority today is making sure all our bridges are safe," said State Bridge Maintenance Engineer Scott Stotlemeyer. "We've got hundreds of people checking bridges today. If we find any damage we'll deal with it right away, and we won't hesitate to close a bridge."
As of 10 a.m., about 1,400 inspections are complete, with no damage found. Completed inspections include all of the nearly 1,000 bridges in the St. Louis area.
In addition to the eastern part of the state, MoDOT will also examine Missouri River crossings today at Hermann, Jefferson City, Boonville, Rocheport, Miami and Glasgow.
Inspectors are looking for any signs of damage, including cracks or buckling in the bridge deck, loose pavement, bent beams or girders, missing bolts, or misalignment of curbs or rails. If potential problems are found, bridge engineers will be called in for a more thorough examination, and the bridge will be closed if necessary.
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