RSS
Home
Quake shakes Milwaukee in 1968
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
On November 9, 1968, an earthquake shook Milwaukee and Wisconsin. It was a 5.3 magnitude quake with the epicenter in southern Illinois. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the central United States in 74 years. The shock was felt in 23 states and southern Ontario, Canada.
Many people assume that earthquakes in the United States only occur in California or Alaska. They'd be surprised to learn the number of earthquakes the Midwest has experienced. Over the last 200 years, thousands of small earthquakes have struck along the New Madrid fault zone.
One of the largest ever experienced happened in 1812 in New Madrid, Missouri. The New Madrid earthquake struck on February 7 with an estimated magnitude between 7.4 and 8.0. It had enough force to make the Mississippi River change its course. Boats on the river were swamped and capsized.
In Boston, 1,000 miles away, the quake caused church bells to ring.
The area at the time was lightly populated, but a quake of that magnitude today would have devastating effect upon several cities that exist today, such as St. Louis, Missouri; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. Today, tiny earthquakes still ripple through the area. A 2.5 magnitude quake was just recorded in Arkansas a few hours ago.
Milwaukee was the epicenter of it's own earthquake on May 7, 1947. It was a quick burst, lasting less than a second and measured 4.0, but it was felt in six counties. The city escaped disaster because the earthquake was so short. As it was, it knocked dishes off shelves, pictures off walls, and threw pedestrians off balance.
The Milwaukee quake of 1947 is the only recorded quake centered in Wisconsin.
For a list of quakes felt in Milwaukee throughout recent history, visit the University of Wisconsin -- Milwaukee's Geosciences page.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
