Aftershocks from Saturday's 5.6-magnitude earthquake in Oklahoma are likely to continue for weeks or even months, the U.S. Geological Survey says, but rattled residents can expect them to decrease in intensity.
The USGS says dozens of aftershocks from the temblor, and a 4.7-magnitude foreshock, have been recorded since the 5.6 quake hit at 10:53 CT Saturday night.
The Oklahoma Geological Survey says the quake was the largest ever to strike in the state, topping a 5.5-magnitude temblor that struck on April 9, 1952.
Saturday's quake was centered about four miles east of Sparks, in Lincoln County, Oklahoma. The USGS says on its website that it has not been able to determine what fault line the quake occurred on, but scientists are focusing on the Wilzetta fault, which they describe as one of a series of small faults that formed in the area about 300 million years ago. If the Wilzetta fault did rupture Saturday, it would be the first time a surface-rupturing quake has been recorded on it.
All previous surface-rupturing quakes in Oklahoma have occurred on the Meers fault, in the south-central portion of the state, the USGS says.
Damage from Saturday's quake was slight, with The Oklahoman newspaper reporting minor damage to 12 homes and a buckling of U.S. Highway 62 near the epicenter in Lincoln County.
But the quake was anything but minor to one couple whose home sits near the epicenter. The chimney of Joe and Mary Reneau's home came crashing through their roof in Prague, Oklahoma, CNN affiliate KJRH-TV reported.
"Wham! It wasn't just a sudden bang,” Joe Reneau told KJRH. “This house was rocking and rolling."
But it wasn't just people that the quake stirred up. Birds and bugs were so rattled that they took to flight in massive numbers, enough to show up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather radar, CNN affiliate KTUL-TV reported. Check out the radar images here.
My daughter is flying to Oklahoma City Thurday on business.
She is not happy.
AND??????????????????? we dont care. tell her to have a coke and a smile and__________________________
I don't see why she wouldn't be happy? Oklahoma City is a great city. We had aftershocks all day yesterday and nobody felt a thing. Besides, the damage from these quakes isn't in the city, it's in the small towns miles away.
There are car crashes every and many killed. You going to quit driving too?
It's the hallmark of your daughters generation.............if you don't have enough drama create more. They're the reality TV generation.
Tell her to get married already... she will never be happy otherwise.
She has every right to be unhappy about it. Hopefully she won't get knocked up when she stays there.
I wouldn't be happy either if I had to go to Oklahoma.
eeeueueueueuuuuughghgghhghgghg, she should go to Idaho, it's far superior place
I just hate Oklahoma City, you sniveling morons. Tell her to get married already? Hey, thanks for the advice, Ward Cleaver. bjlucky, did the short bus forget to pick you up from school?
hope all is ok there.
It happens... just relax
I am relaxed, thanks. Perhaps you should take your own advice.
It did occur in OK. So, I'm sure everyone is. 😉
Earthquakes happen all the time. No reason to panic. It's only that the news report on such events more than before. There are thousands of earthquakes every day. Nothing abnormal is going on. There's nothing to see here. Go home. Keep shopping.
Sure it is. Someone who has never experienced one, or it's aftershock, might be a wee bit afraid though, no?
Yes earthquakes happen all the time but when a 5.6 hits an area where there are no structures built to withstand major earthquakes it is kind of a big deal. There are hundreds each year in OK and normally around 500 per year. Last year there were 1,000 in OK though and this is the largest the state has ever witnessed. So, big changes are ongoing on the faults throughout the plains and this can cause short and long-term issues here. We're sorry we aren't accustomed to this, would you like an F4 or F5 tornado to rip through your state and not be covered by the media??
Well said, Okie83.
the end is here...near.
3 miles below the surface.
Same depth as much of the fracking going on.
Coincidence?
.
sorry buddy but you are sadly mistaken, no well in the US is 15840 feet deep better do some research 1st most directional wells only go down 4000-5000 feet and "kick off" horizontaly
The Oklahoma Geological Survey posted a report conducted in August 2011, notating wells at 10,000'
Check YOUR facts
yeah, well I worked a well in south east Oklahoma that was 26,300 ft. in the"potato Hills" it is in the south east corner of Oklahoma, it was called the Mary 2-34 it was about 5 years ago. I think you need to do the research.
Hello ththere, my name ithe marty, what'th your name? I am director of the Earth Quake Anti-Defamation League, an organization that educates Americans on the goodness of EQ's. We've always had EQ's...not near as many, but still they are natural. Since EQ's came out of the closet, many ignorant people have looked down on them...many even saying that God made them this way. Please join with me getting the word out that EQ's are ok even in OKlahoma. Ththank you tho much for for reading my pothst. (this message brought to you by Big Jales pharmaceuticals, the makers of XANAX, Prozac, Ritilin, and Seoquel..."Five a day keeps EQ's away". Got a quake? Best call Jake.)
Biggest quake since 52? I disagree! The ones generated between the Cornhuskers and the Sooners in Switzer's tenure were much bigger. They sure don't make smash nose college football like they used to.
Oil and gas exploitation has made the subsurface a bit fragile. Not to worry in 10,000 years no one will remember any of this.
LOL !!!
[sarcasm]Please creationists, tell us the evils that brought your gods wrath to Oklahoma[/sarcasm]
Thank goodness you used sarcasm tags – I couldn't tell otherwise. I was about ready to answer the question.
Howdy, Banasy.
Oklahoma is OK !!!
The quake was unlikely to be caused by Fracking given the depth. However I'm wondering if the fracked region could act as an amplifier for the quake? Like tapping an open paper bag is noisier than tapping a flat one. Any thoughts on that?
More likely, it would absorb the vibrations without transmitting it further. Compare: a knock to the end of a solid rod and a knock to the end of a broken rod. Which one reaches the other end of the rod intact?
Is cantor going to allow them federal government money if nneeded or is he going to stand in the way of help just like he wanted to do until the earthquake and flood hit his district in VA a couple of months ago?
Why should he allow them federal government money?
Anyone who says OKC is a nice place to live does not know better. I lived there for a year and became deeply depressed. It's SO boring and filled with right-wing nut Christians who preach what they themselves don't follow. The weather there is ridiculous and it is so flat and barren. All there is to do there is GET PREGNANT. It's pathetic. Now that I'm in Houston I can finally be around cultured people once again and I couldn't be happier.
What an amazingly pretentious comment. Are you running for public office, perchance?
wow . although i agree there are a lot of right wing nut jobs in Oklahoma i also go to Houston for meetings on a regular basis and would rather spend my time with the people of Oklahoma, Houston is overpopulated and crazy and the only "culture" that is in Houston is the Oil and gas Culture.
Thank God you left. OK can breathe easier.
You are a dip S**T aren't you? You now live in what was not to long ago, the murder capitol of the world! You are just another Texan that can't stand that the "Great State of Oklahoma" is far better than your whole other country (Mexico)! Just out of curiosity how many times did you get Pregnant?????? My guess is ZERO just like your life! LOSER (just like your football teams...... LMAO!
There are many educated people from around the globe here in Houston and I appreciate that. It's only the murder capital if you are uneducated and live in the ghetto. I saw none of that in Oklahoma City. And to respond to Britt, no I choose to have children when I am well established in my career and I could care less about football, it is silly and boorish. You sound like white trailer trash, maybe an OU graduate?
ou should appreciate the fact that there are educated people around you, since you are not one of them.
You, that is. Do you honestly think that culture and education is going to be tranfered to you through osmosis?
Wow, Stacey, you've taken pretentiousness to a whole new level. You make Obama look humble by comparison. You must be proud!
Yes, Houston is still the murder capital even if you live in Los Angeles. The facts don't change relative to where your home is located. You didn't see any of the ghetto while in OK? Sounds like a better place to me.
Earthquakes rock !
Yeah!