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Earthquake Wakes St. Louis-Area Blogger

April 18th, 2008 · 21 Comments

I lived in Japan for more than three years and know an earthquake when I feel it. At approximately 4.40 a.m. Central, this St. Louis-area blogger was awakened by an earthquake.

My guess — and I haven’t seen any news reports about it yet — is that it was a 3.5 to 4.0 on the Richter Scale. For those of you who have no earthquake experience, it felt like someone was gently shaking my queen-size bed back and forth nonstop for about 15 seconds.

Here’s how I know it was as strong as my estimate above: It woke two of my three sons (No surprise, the high school senior slept through it).

Was it the New Madrid fault acting up? My guess is, “Yes!”

More later as reports hit the airwaves and find their way into cyberspace.

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See also:

Midwest Earthquake Registers 5.4

USGS Map Shows Epicenter in Olney, Illinois

Earthquake Survivor Fashion Line Launched

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21 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Mitch Harper // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:04 am

    http://indiana.typepad.com/fwob/2008/04/breaking-earthq.html

    The Fort Wayne Observed blog has linked to you at the above URL.

    Fort Wayne area residents were also awakened by the quake.

  • 2 Juan Fernando Ibarra // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:05 am

    I wonder where the epicenter was located. I’m in Chicago and the quake also woke me up. I just heard in the radio there were reports from people who also felt in Wisconsin.

  • 3 Max // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:11 am

    Good morning! I’m never up this early.

    Check this out for more info, USGS reporting a 5.4 mag earthquake in Olney Illinois

    http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/cus/

  • 4 Sabrina // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:13 am

    YES!!!!! I’m from California–San Andreas fault territory and I know an earthquake when I feel one. I was stunned not to see ANY coverage on the news. I live in South City and I felt it loud and clear. My cat was going nuts and my husband thought I was going nuts. THANK you for your confirmation.

  • 5 Sabrina // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:20 am

    And another thing–funny to have found a quote in Science Daily–I think Evanston, IL (probably 80-100 mi. from epicenter) talking about the improbability of an earthquake in midwest, going so far as to say you don’t need to prepare for an EQ in St. Louis like you do in L.A. . . Best though, is that it was published YESTERDAY!

  • 6 hotoffthepress2 // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:21 am

    Epicenter = Evansville, Ill., approximately 120 miles east of St. Louis.

  • 7 Toni // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:23 am

    Was on my computer when it happened…. The bed behind me looked like the one in the Exorcist!!! I knew what it was almost immediately,as I never forgot what that was like I am old enough to remember that pretty good one we had in St Louis in the late 60s.

  • 8 catherine // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:27 am

    thank you SO much for posting this. i moved here a year ago and didnt know there were earthquakes here and i was scared out of my mind.

  • 9 LL // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:31 am

    I felt my house shaking for about 5 seconds at 4:37 A.M. this morning. Was anyone else woken up from this little earthquake.

  • 10 Mark // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:35 am

    I woke up and found my car in my front hedges.

  • 11 earthquake, japan, new madrid fault, richter scale, St. Louis, tremblor | Bob McCarty Writes // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:38 am

    [...] ← Earthquake Wakes St. Louis-Area Blogger USGS Map Shows Epicenter in Olney, Illinois [...]

  • 12 hotoffthepress2 // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:39 am

    Where are you?

  • 13 st. louis earthquake Trendy Here! // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:52 am

    [...] an earthquake. My guess — and I haven’t seen any news reports about it yet — is that … credit : [...]

  • 14 Baja // Apr 18, 2008 at 5:04 am

    Yeah it woke me up too.. creepy…

  • 15 John // Apr 18, 2008 at 5:11 am

    I felt it in Davenport IA as a gentle back and forth shaking while I was at work. Wasn’t sure what it was at first.

  • 16 USGS Map Shows Epicenter in Olney, Illinois | Bob McCarty Writes // Apr 18, 2008 at 6:28 am

    [...] Earthquake Wakes St. Louis-Area Blogger [...]

  • 17 » Earthquake Wakes St. Louis-Area Blogger NoisyRoom.net: Courage is the price that Life exacts for granting peace. Amelia Earhart // Apr 18, 2008 at 8:52 am

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  • 18 Orion // Apr 18, 2008 at 10:06 am

    Wimps. Here in California we’d just wake up, roll over, and mutter, “Not now, dear – I have to get up early for work.”

  • 19 Earthquake « The Sassy Tn’T PoLITicallY InCorrect // Apr 18, 2008 at 10:47 am

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  • 20 Matt Smith // Apr 18, 2008 at 11:09 am

    http://matthewsbloghome.blogspot.com/2008/04/earthquake-in-midwest-131-miles-east-of.html
    Yep, I felt the one early in the morning and the one around 10:15am… kind of scary stuff.

  • 21 st. louis earthquake | Hottags // Apr 19, 2008 at 3:39 pm

    [...] Earthquake Wakes St. Louis-Area BloggerI lived in Japan for more than three years and know an earthquake when I feel it. Less than 10 minutes ago, this St. Louis-area blogger was awakened by an earthquake. My guess — and I haven’t seen any news reports about it yet — is that …Bob mccarty Writes – http://bobmccarty.com [...]

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