Earthquake Registers 3.6, Leaving Some IL Residents Shaking

ILLINOIS — Residents as far west and north as Aurora and DeKalb may have felt the impact of a minor earthquake which was reported early Wednesday morning by the United States Geological Survey.

The 3.6 magnitude earthquake was reported at 4:42 a.m., officials said, and had an epicenter of Standard, which is located about 100 miles southwest of Chicago in Putnam County. USGS officials said that residents may have felt some "light" perceived shaking in connection with the earthquake, which is considered “light” by USGS standards.

A USGS map showed the impact zone of the earthquake, which suggested that residents in nearby communities of Ottawa, Streator, Pontiac and Springfield may have felt the light shaking. However, the effects of the earthquake may have been detected as far away as Aurora and Dekalb officials said.

According to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security, Illinois is at risk from two seismic zones — the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone and the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The Wabash Valley Zone is located between southeastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana. The NMSZ is located in the Central Mississippi Valley and includes portions of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee, the agency said.

During any 50-year time span, there is a 25 to 40 percent chance of a magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquake in this seismic zone, according to the agency.

A 3.6 magnitude earthquake ranks as a "light" earthquake on the USGS intensity scale, which means residents in the area may have felt a "light" shaking, according to the Geological Society. An earthquake with "light" perceived shaking is not expected to create damage. "Light" ranks as level three on the nine-level USGS scale.

The agency said that other minor earthquakes were felt in other states on Wednesday morning, including in Montana and Texas.