Magnitude 3.6 earthquake rattles parts of northern Illinois, parts of 3 other states, USGS says

A seismic event of magnitude 3.6 struck northern Illinois and extended its effects into three additional states during the early hours of Wednesday, prompting residents to report the shaking of their homes to both the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and local law enforcement agencies.

This minor earthquake occurred at approximately 4:41 a.m. local time and had its epicenter situated about six-tenths of a mile (1 kilometer) south-southeast of Standard, Illinois, a town positioned some 100 miles (161 kilometers) southwest of downtown Chicago, as confirmed by the federal agency.

Notably, the seismic activity took place at a depth of approximately 2.9 miles (4.6 kilometers) beneath the Earth’s surface. Jessica Jobe, a research geologist affiliated with the USGS, mentioned that individuals residing as far away as southern Wisconsin, southeastern Iowa, and northwest Indiana reported feeling the tremors. However, she emphasized that these reports indicated “weak to moderate” shaking, with no information received by the USGS regarding any consequential damage.

Despite the absence of a historical record of significant earthquakes in the region of Illinois in question and the lack of a known fault zone in the area, Jobe underscored that “small to moderate earthquakes can occur anywhere and anytime in the Eastern U.S.”

Administrative Lieutenant Doug Bernabei of the Peru Police Department, located several miles to the north of Standard, disclosed that he was preparing coffee when his residence experienced the tremors. Initially suspecting an impact, he promptly activated his police radio, whereupon he heard a continuous stream of calls flooding the 911 dispatch center, all originating from alarmed residents.

“We received voluminous amounts of 911 calls. It was literally one call after another,” he recounted. “It shook my house. It wasn’t a rattle; I thought something hit the house. A lot of people were waking up.”

Bernabei further indicated that there were no known reports of damage stemming from the earthquake. He confirmed that the Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch, situated in Peru and responsible for overseeing several north-central Illinois communities, fielded numerous calls from individuals who had experienced the seismic event.

Randy Simpson, a dispatcher at the Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch Center and a resident of Mendota, located approximately 16 miles (26 kilometers) north of Standard, mentioned that he was awake and watching television at the time but did not personally perceive the earthquake’s effects. However, he received a text message from a friend residing in the same community, reporting that he had just experienced the earthquake and felt his house shake.

“He said, ‘Did you feel that?’ And I was like ‘Feel what?'” Simpson recalled.

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More about earthquake in Illinois

• USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
• Illinois Geological Survey
• Earthquake Information for Illinois
• Eastern United States Earthquakes
• Understanding Earthquakes