46 Comments - JR - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 5:24 am: I was awake when it happened (watching the early morning news.) I felt a small tremor first, like someone had kicked my house. I got up to investigate and when by the time I got to the bedroom door, the main earthquake happened, a strong shaking of the house. My wife woke up, saw me, and yelled “What’s happening!”, my response was “I don’t know”. It stopped, and I went outside, very quiet… which blew my theory of a strong wind gust. By the time I got back to bed, I was sure that we had experience a small (well maybe moderate) earthquake. - Madison County Watcher - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 5:30 am: Woke us up at 4:37am and lasted for about a minute. Didn’t do much more than shake the bed. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 5:34 am: My brick house shook like the devil. lol. Ducked into a doorway after the first shake, then ran outside during the second shake. I could hear stuff rattling about inside. - Frank Sobotka - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 5:37 am: Stupid earthquake woke me up and cheated me out of 2 hours of sleep! I’m up for the day now. And let me be the first to drop the cliche: ‘it was like a freight train going by’. - Way South of the Border - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 5:38 am: I was in a 4.5 earthquake 25 years ago, and will never forget the disorientating feeling of “bottom-up” peril — we Midwesterns are much more used to the “top-down” versions: severe t-storms, hail, tornados. I was already awake when it hit this morning and knew right a way what it was, because it was so…. from the ground. A few minutes later, I went outside and noticed the birds were utterly silent — never happens this time of year where I live. That confirmed it for me. Hope everyone’s okay. - Devin Miller - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 5:44 am: Here in the Carbondale area it woke every one up that I have talked to thus far. I thought a tornado was heading or on top of my house. My first earthquake I felt and scared the bajezus out of me. - Give Me A Break - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 5:53 am: Wow, when it was over (I live in Springfield), I thought it was a sign from the heavens that Rod and Mike made-up and went out for a drink with Emil, Tom and Frank. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 6:04 am: From WFIW radio in Fairfield (near epicenter)… ===A 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit southern Illinois at 4:38 this morning. The quake was centered 7 miles east of West Salem in rural Edwards County. Widespread reports of minor to moderate damage have been received by area emergency agencies. Don Ile north of Albion reports one wall of his home was cracked. A West Salem woman reported a chandelier fell from her ceiling, crashing to the floor. Most residents report pictures being knocked off the walls, and dishes cracked. Some power outages have been reported in parts of Wabash and Edwards County. Bricks were knocked off a few buildings in Albion and Bridgeport. No reports of injuries have been received. Allendale Fire Department personnel are now going house to house to make sure gas connections have not been broken.==== - Leigh - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 6:09 am: I live up near Chicago and it woke us up! We could not figure out what is was. Up here we only felt a few moments of the house shaking, just enough to freak me out! - Bookworm - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 6:22 am: Heard pictures thumping against the wall and windows rattling. Figured it was either an earthquake or that gas main that broke in Spfld yesterday had blown up half of downtown… - jaundiced eye - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 6:24 am: The morning anchor on WBBM AM observed that today is the anniversary of the great San Francisco earthquake. So, everybody up — go in search of a cold Anchor Steam and some breakfast and then see if we can blame the quake on Todd Stroger! - Will B. Groggy today - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 6:32 am: Here is a blurb from an SJR article from 11-10-99 reminiscing about the 11-9-68 earthquake: “The earthquake that rumbled through the Midwest about 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, 1968, was the largest Midwestern earthquake of the century, and although the 5.5 magnitude temblor was centered in Hamilton County, in the southeastern part of Illinois, Springfield area residents got in on the action. As the Illinois State Journal-Register reported on Nov. 10, the quake rattled dishes, moved chairs, broke mirrors, shook houses and spilled groceries from shelves throughout central Illinois.” I googled the location of the 1968 earthquake at http://www.bssaonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/60/3/973 and put it on the same map as the location given for today’s earthquake on the USGS website. They are both in the same general area. Link to map: http://snipurl.com/24vaa - JR - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 6:41 am: Great info Will! Thanks. - Dan S, a Voter & Cubs Fan - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 7:16 am: Sam Madonia on 1450WFMB (aka WSHG) commented that this will prolong Leach’s career by 10 - 20 years since the furror of the 06 tornado coverage is almost forgotten. The new t-shirt will be “I shook thru the night with Jim Leach”. LOL - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 7:19 am: We’re lucky to have him here, but if that station is sold and the new owners switch to “normal” radio, we can forget about the sort of local reportage at which Leach excels. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 7:24 am: Wow. They felt it in Atlanta, GA - Dan S, a Voter & Cubs Fan - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 7:33 am: Rich, I normally listen to FM during the day at work but WSHG is the only station I can get to come in inside our building this morning and I will listen to the Cubs game in the PM. I just thought Madonia’s “hot air ” was kind of funny this morning. Most “pros” don’t take pot shots at each other live on air. - Loop Lady - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 7:34 am: I woke up and said to my spouse, “Are we having an earthquake?” We live near a freight rail line and he said, “Naw, it’s just a train”. We have a solid oak wooden bed frame that was shaking very hard. Couldn’t get back to sleep. I experienced an earthquake when I was in college at SIU, over 30 years ago. SIU is near New Madras fault in MO. ISGS is gonna have a busy day. Tectonic plates rock! - cardsmama - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 8:35 am: Loop Lady - I was at SIU the same year in Neely Hall on the 16th floor. THAT was an experience! The wall phone cord swung back & forth a good foot-plus. This morning, I felt like I was in a stupor. I was surprised at how little my dogs responded. One lay on the couch and the other ran out from under my bed. Two pictures of my parents fell face down on my entertainment wall, but that was it. I couldn’t get back to sleep with the anticipation of possibly another tremor. - Ghost - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 8:36 am: Forget the earthquake, whats this about selling WMAY? I won’t have anything to listen to if they do that. - Tony - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 8:58 am: I slept through the damn thing. Good call on the Tweedy… - The Speaker - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 9:37 am: Having awoken, as always, at 3:07 a.m. after getting the necessary 3.25 hours of sleep, I had completed my yoga workout, free weight routine (now benching 385) whipped through Cliffs of Dover on Guitar Hero, redrafted what will be the new Illinois constitution, read all fiscal notes for Senate bills on third reading and won an ebay auction for an autographed Jim Thome Sox jersey and was in my Capitol office where I always start the day promptly at 4:30 a.m. (I like to get to the Capitol early, in case that wasn’t clear yesterday) when suddenly the earthquake struck and the apple I was preparing to slice wobbled and rolled off my desk. Since no one else was in the building — especially not any House Republicans — I had to get down on the floor and search under my desk for said apple. It appears somone really needs to clean more frequently. Wadded up in the corner were the drafts regarding efforts to get Jay Hoffman back in the House after that unfortunate loss to John Shimkus. In retrospect, state Rep. Glen Bradford might not have been such a bad idea. And I found a transcript of my 1997 comments about working in a bipartisan fashion after having won back control. I don’t really think anyone expected it to last as long as it did. And lookie here … I’d almost forgot about those “indiscretions” involving the governor that I’d refrained from detailing. Perhaps its time. - Iben Browning - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 9:44 am: I’m shocked and appalled that I don’t even get a shoutout for sending along the Tweedy New Madrid link. A professional mainstream media outlet — like the SJR — would always properly credit its sourcing. As for this earthquake, I predicted it years ago. But since I’m dead, it’s hard to get the word out. - Mike Phillips - Geologist - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 9:52 am: The best place to go when you think you feel an earthquake is here: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ If you felt this quake, please go to this site, link to the report on the earthquake, find the “did you feel it?” link, and fill out the questionnaire. The data collected is very valuable. Info on earthquakes in Illinois may be found at: http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/research/earthquake-hazards/earthquake-haz.shtml Shameless plug: The Illinois State Geological Survey is one of the best in the nation. It is has been cut recently and it deserves better. - Speaking At Will - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 9:53 am: I am now willing to report that the earthquake that happened this morning was no earthquake at all, it was actually just Hot Rod dropping a campaign contribution check. Those things can get heavy. - Iben Browning - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 10:16 am: Aftershock anyone? - Anonymous - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 10:18 am: Whoa, did I just feel an afterschock … felt like a gust of wind shaking the building. - The Gov - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 10:25 am: Back in March 2005 I promised to “Rock the system.” As everyone knows, I keep my promises. The events of this morning are evidence (there’s a word I don’t like to use) of just how powerful my plans are. I will keep rocking the system until lawmakers pass my budget, capital plan and all resign from office having realized what I already know, they serve no purpose. Thank you very much and hold on, it’s gonna get bumpy. - Diamond Dog - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 10:29 am: Believe it or not, the ATL shook this morning. Illinois ruins everything. - Anonymous45 - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 10:31 am: Where are the conservative bloggers stating that the quake was sign of being in end times? Anyone? BTW, I think the ISGS is very happy to be out of the clutches of the current administration thank you vey much… - Pot calling kettle - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 10:57 am: I fail to see how the ISGS is beyond the reach of the current admin… - Mike Phillips - Geologist - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 11:00 am: The aftershock is reported at 4.6 http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Quakes/us2008qzbw.php - Anonymous45 - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 11:35 am: Pot: the UIUC surveys9ISWS, ISGS, WMRC, INHS) are not part of IDNR anymore…they have been cut loose…their affiliation is solely with the University as of last month…where have you been? - Anonymous45 - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 11:36 am: sorry for t he typo:(ISWS - Eddy - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 11:39 am: first time feeling both…I’m never, EVER, moving to California - BehindTheScenes - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 11:48 am: For “Speaking at Will” and others: I heard it was not a quake at all, but the force of all the Liberals in Southern Illinois simultaneously awakening to the thought that their fair-haired candidate actually has feet of clay, and is not the future president they had thought/hoped he was… Actually, I slept through the first shake but felt the one at 10:15. - steve schnorf - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 11:56 am: I was teaching in Robinson 40 years ago when we had that one, and it felt stronger than last night/this morning. Looking at the Richter Scale numbers, that was probably just because I was closer to the epicenter. - Pot calling kettle - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 11:56 am: Anon 45: The U of I is part of the Higher Ed, which has lost funding over the past few years, just like the DNR. I see this as a lateral move. If the Surveys do not have a line item of their own, the U of I will be very tempted to skim. If they do have a line, the Gov. will be able to hack away directly. - Dirt Guy - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 12:11 pm: Slept right through it. I got to work and was making phones calls. I was on hold, listening to Elvis of all people, and a coworker came into my office and asked me if I was all shook up. I was thinking it was Elvis day, I had no clue what he was talking about when he told me. Oh, well. I do remember the one in 1968 though. I was in a barber shop with my Dad and the place started to shake big time. I enjoyed the ride and I’m sorry I missed today’s movement. - Matt G - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 12:19 pm: Comment on the video- not the earthquake. How much did Uncle Tupelo rock? A lot. Maybe a good question of the day would be how much would you pay to watch a reunion tour? Is there any other band you would rather see unite? No way. Too bad Jay is a jerk. Thanks for a great video Rich! - unclesam - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 12:47 pm: It woke up my 3-month old; which then woke me up. Two unhappy campers! - kimsch - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 3:46 pm: Slept right through it here near the Wisconsin border. None of the animals seemed to be affected by it either (two dogs and three cats, one cat sleeping on me at the time). - Anonymous - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 7:16 pm: I was having a terrifying dream (accompanied by nausea) right around that time, woke up, heard dead silence, figured everything was OK, and went right back to sleep until–the birds obviously came out of shock a few minutes later and started yapping about the whole thing non-stop for about a half-hour. Got up again to take a look, and noticed the birds had assembled in my trees and taller bushes (where they usually go when there’s a predator about) BUT were also on the lawn, which meant no cat and it seemed a bit early for their wildlife shennanigans. Knew something was up based on their behavior, but didn’t realize it had been an earthquake until I hit the news a couple of hours later. - Frank Booth - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 8:34 pm: These are among the most boring natural disaster stories ever shared. - Frank Booth - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 8:35 pm: In the history of the world! - dupage progressive - Friday, Apr 18, 08 @ 8:54 pm: It was wild — it woke us up & it was the strangest thing. The windows were rattling, but a different kind of rattle or shaking from wind. You could feel like a roll from the ground, but it made no sense. I’ve never been through an earthquake, but it was all I could conclude was happening. Felt like my heart was beating in a strange way too. Someone said that if you slept on the 1st floor of a bldg., you might not have felt it as strongly as if you were higher up. I wonder if folks in the downtown area felt it. Now, THAT would be scary — to be in a high-rise during an earthquake. So, we just went back to sleep - too tired to worry about it. And we felt the tremor that followed shortly afterward too. Strange — and no one on my street came out of their house either. Sounds like most everyone is okay - great news. :) Now, if we could just survive this year’s mess of a disaster in springfield. Let’s all hope a week away will chill everyone out. Something tells me the true games will begin, now that bills have passed into different chambers… Yuck. It’s a hostage situation. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.