Moving along......

Gwanny, I'm not real sure where Wheeling or Western Springs is--Northwest Illinois? I believe most of Illinois experienced it, but there hasn't been much damage reported. It was a 5.2 and epicenter was near Mt. Carmel which is right on southeast tip, next to Indiana. There is a great site on USGS.gov that gives lots of info. I'm in east central Il and it was my first real quake & not just a tremor. Hats off to the California people. Guess its just what we get accustomed to.
Jan

Gwanny, they say it could be felt in Chicago and Wheeling is just north of there so they probably felt it.

Thanks....I have no idea where these cities are. I do keep in touch with them through emails but I hadn't heard from them today. I knew there was no injuries or damage but they are always joking about our earthquakes here in CA and I just had to know if they felt it. After feeling this one I wonder how smug they are now LOL....can't wait to hear their reactons after feeling the ground moving under them!

The Illinois quake was all over the TV news in Milwaukee, WI this morning. The shake was felt in Milwaukee by a few souls who were up at that hour, the rest of us slept through it.

I contacted a distant relative of mine in Decatur, IL, and he said he was awakend by it at 4:40 AM. Being in a groggy state, he reported that the window blinds were rattling in his bedroom, and he rolled over to sleep again. The next morning, he realized it had been the qauke that awakend him.

I called my sister who lives south of Effingham, IL and she said that she was awakend by it. She lives in the countryside where it is very quiet and she reported it was "noisy". The surafce waves was shaking the trees and these made a noise similar to a wind front sweeping through a forest. She said their house was swaying a bit, that is, it was affecting her balance and the bed was scooting a bit. She also felt the second quake about 10:00 am and reported that one made a noise akin to a quarry blast or a cannon being fired in the distance. The noise was heard before the quake arrived.

I also was in contact with an aquaintence whose house is only 3 miles from the epicenter. The quake awakened him, but in his semi-stupor condition imagined that his wife was having a nghtmare and promply went back to sleep. He reported pictures falling off the walls, pictures sitting on flat surfaces were knocked over, and several pieces of dinner ware were disturbed. The only damage to his house was a few displaced bricks in the chimney.

Although, that part of Illinois has experienced earthqaukes in the past, it is not common, therefore, they were excitable and had plenty to talk about this morning. I experienced a quake ca 1952 when I lived in that region. That one was just one single jolt. I first heard it coming trough the trees just before it arrived. A wave of motion could be seen traveling through the forest. The trees were waving much like a wind gust blowing through tall grass, and the noise sounded like a wind front passing through the forest.

Seismologists had stated this earthquake was associated with the New Madrid quake zone in Missouri, on the Mississippi River. However, pronouncements may change as they have more time to review and calculate the data. They were debating this morning whether or not the second shock was an aftershock or a second quake.

Jemdandy, I lived near West Salem in the 50's also! Small world! My folks & us kids were all born in Wabash county. I still have relatives there.