A intensity map showing the areas the felt the quake. Note: The red star is where the quake occurred.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a 3.8 magnitude earthquake hit between the towns of Virgil and Sycamore, IL located in Kane county early this morning.
The quake was initially reported as a 4.3 magnitude earthquake and revised after further studies of the wave forms.
The rattle was felt as far north as Wisconsin to as far south as Tennessee.
There were reports of tremors that came in from Villa Park, Western Springs, Minooka, Batavia, Naperville, Elgin, Oak Lawn, Des Plaines, the northwest side of Chicago, Logan Square and even Crown Point, IN.
Many residents reported their homes shaking. Doug DuPont of Belvidere, Illinois spoke on the quake.
It was really scary. It felt like a train was going by our house. This is not California. This is northern Illinois. We are not supposed to get earthquakes.
Doug also mentioned that the quake caused a 1 foot long crack in the wall of his kitchen.
The last time Illinois experienced an earthquake was April 18, 2008 when a 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck near downstate West Salem. That quake was the worst to hit Illinois since 1968 where a 5.4 magnitude earthquake occurred near Dale, IL.
(Other recent earthquakes to occur in Illinois)
On Jan. 2, 2006, a magnitude 3.6 quake hit about 118 miles Southeast from St. Louis, MO, near Equality, IL.
On June 28, 2004, a magnitude 4.2 quake struck near Troy Grove, IL, about 70 miles Southwest of Chicago.
Sources: USGS, AOL News, MyFoxChicago
Comments
Does anyone else notice a trend here. The earthquakes are relatively small and apparently have a two year interval.
I felt at about 4 A.M.
Felt like a large dump truck rolled past my house!
Naji,
Thanks for sharing your experience! That's an interesting observation! Although there aren't any major faults here in northern Illinois, there has been a trend developing.
I had gone to sleep an hour before it occured and now wish I had stayed up. The last earthquake I experienced was the one in 2008. It felt really weird.
"This is not California. This is northern Illinois. We are not supposed to get earthquakes."
I wonder if Doug DuPont of Belvidere has that in writing somewhere, or if he is just naive?
i was in a deep sleep dreaming and it woke me up i was sitting in my bed noone else felt it but me my boyfriend told me it waas my dream go back to bed .. . lol i woke up saw the news and there it was . . this is the 3rd quake that has starttled me since 2004. im moving !!
I live in Montgomery and it hit here at 4:01am. It was not shaking or rumbling, but more like a Boom and I felt the house move one way and then back, and the stuff on the walls rattled. My first earthquake.
@ashleigh funny story!
@Root Beer Slim You can't be surprised about anything nowadays, but in the defense of Doug I kind of know what he means. Besides the incident that occured today, the other time this occured up here was in 2004. The others were downstate where there is a major fault (the New Madrid Fault).
There are some that may not even remember the other events if it hadn't been mentioned.
Looks like 2012 is becoming more and more believable lol. I was awake when it happened and Naji hit it on the nose. It just felt like a large truck driving through my family room.
I live in Sycamore IL and it woke me and my wife. I know it's crazy but my initial thought was a bomb had just gone off. Freaked me out! I soon realized that it was a quake... then checked on my two sleeping children, and headed to the basement to check for damaged pipes or gas lines. What is really scary is you have no time to get under a table or in a doorway when you're sleeping. It was over by the time my feet hit the floor. Thank God this quake wasn't that bad.
I live in Chicago's north west side. I was laying sick in bed when I suddenly felt a tremble. It felt like a plane was hovering over. The tremble was followed by a jerk that shook the house, and then went back to a tremble. The whole ordeal lasted about 10 seconds. I will not ever forget it!
It's funny...every time something weird happens, people think it's the end of the world. Read your history books. Natural disasters have happened all throughout history. Jeez...2012 will come and go, just like the rest of the years.
I've been in Illinois since 2004 and I've felt all three quakes but just ignored them because I didn't even know if it was real or my imagination, but I felt yesterday's and I believe it. It was like something was shaking the house from top to bottom.it woke me up and my mom woke up to check up on me& the rest of the family.Scary! especially after Haiti....
I'm in Campton Hills, and I too initially thought it was a bomb, there was a distinct boom quite different from the tremor we had in 2008
How many homeowners have earthquake insurance in Il.? As of this morning I know of one, me.
felt it in dupage..
"truth sayer" It was a joke take it easy. Yes you should read your history books though buddy. Can you tell me what happened to Dinosaurs? I don't see them walking the earth anymore. Not saying that 2012 is going to happen but don't say it's not possible. Lot of weird stuff happening in this world these days.
Thanks for sharing all of your experiences. So many of you have that seem to live close to where the epicenter took place said that it felt like a "bomb".
@sick in bed you said it felt like a plane was hovering over the house. wow. interesting comments.
I have never been close to the epicenter of an earthquake. My experience came from tremors from the 2008 quake downstate. I thought it was just me but my bed was moving back and forth. I also heard dishes downstairs clanking against each other. It lasted between 10-15 seconds. It was a weird feeling.
One thing is clear earthquakes and natural disasters are happening more frequently around the world in diverse places. In addition, the world is in a cooling cycle, not a warming cycle like the Al Gore minions want you to believe.
i know earthquakes are scary but that isnt that bad im from southern california and the earthquakes here are above 5.0 and no one is freaking out that bad... hang in there guys !!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!