Strong Quake in Oklahoma

[Syf]

I just wanted to share this tidbit of news. Early this morning (between 2am and 3am). It centered in Prague, Oklahoma (50 miles west of Oklahoma City). It was a 4.7 quake. I had been in bed for about 30-45 minutes, and really didn't notice it. An aftershock just happened 5 minutes ago, in which I felt here in northern Oklahoma. One may think that Oklahoma is too far inland to have quakes. But actually, we have over 300 quakes a year. However, they are usually 3.0 quakes or less. This one was the 2nd largest recorded in Oklahoma.

Edit: The aftershock I just felt was (I am watching the news right now), was a 5.2... both these are just shy of the record (that was a 5.5 quake in 1955).

 

[Starfox1701]

Thats near the New Madrid fault system isn't it?

 

[Majestic]

I hope you didn't receive any damage or injuries Syf.

 

[Syf]

Actually this is considered the same region, and some data suggested the faults in Oklahoma are connected to the New Madrid. Distance, is 450 miles, give or take (well that's the distance for a car to travel the roads, so mean distance is around 400 miles).

Also, an Update on this "aftershock", it is officially a 5.6 quake (the one that occurred a short time ago), and the one from last night is now being called a pre-shock (like a prequel, as in the Star Wars prequel). I don't believe the pre-shock idea myself.

Edit: My family and myself are fine. It's the first quake my wife and kids have ever noticed though. It's a bit funny for me, since I come from California (L.A.)

Edit: I've added a map of the proximity of the 4.7 quake from last night. the Stronger 5.6 quake is in the same area.

 

[Borg_Queen]

Wow, I hope you and your family are ok, Syf.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
I also hope your family and you are safe Syf, I know how terrible quakes can be.

If there are aftershocks coming after a quake of that magnitude, then I think other of a max of that scale can keep happening for a little while. Just make sure to keep getting in a safe place all what is needed in this kind of emergencies just in case.

 

[Syf]

Thank you everyone. My family is fine. I haven't heard from Crazyfrog yet as he was at drills this weekend.

It is a interesting situation here. First, Oklahoma has an average of 50-300 quakes per year (based on which experts you go by). However, Oklahoma is not known to be a hotbed for tectonic/seismic activity. However, since 2009, the number of quakes we have has more than tripled, with over 1,000 quakes recorded in Oklahoma in 2009, and that number is on the rise since. This is the first time in recorded history that Oklahoma has has such a high number of quakes, and with this recent event(s), a lot of questions are flying right now.

For those interested, Here is a list of quakes here since this weekend...

The Fault that has become rather active is called the Wilzetta fault. But there are several uncharted Faults here.

Quakes: 29 and counting since Saturday -

Format
Magnitude: Date: year/month/day/local time: Longitude: latitude: Depth(km) Location:

4.7 2011/11/08 02:46:57 35.541 -96.754 5.0 9 km ( 5 mi) NW of Prague, OK
2.8 2011/11/07 13:50:20 35.487 -96.864 5.0 3 km ( 2 mi) ESE of Meeker, OK
2.9 2011/11/07 08:12:35 35.505 -96.778 5.0 8 km ( 5 mi) WNW of Prague, OK
3.4 2011/11/07 01:26:31 35.519 -96.758 4.9 7 km ( 5 mi) WNW of Prague, OK
3.3 2011/11/07 01:17:13 35.525 -96.773 5.0 9 km ( 5 mi) WNW of Prague, OK
2.9 2011/11/07 00:03:51 35.490 -96.766 4.7 7 km ( 4 mi) W of Prague, OK
3.3 2011/11/06 18:26:56 35.478 -96.864 5.0 4 km ( 2 mi) SE of Meeker, OK
3.7 2011/11/06 17:52:34 35.547 -96.819 5.0 7 km ( 4 mi) S of Sparks, OK
3.9 2011/11/06 15:07:05 35.535 -96.909 5.0 4 km ( 3 mi) NNW of Meeker, OK
3.2 2011/11/06 11:20:23 35.525 -96.883 5.0 3 km ( 2 mi) NNE of Meeker, OK
3.0 2011/11/06 11:16:20 35.523 -96.844 4.9 6 km ( 3 mi) ENE of Meeker, OK
3.4 2011/11/06 11:03:52 35.539 -96.825 5.0 8 km ( 5 mi) S of Sparks, OK
3.9 2011/11/06 10:52:35 35.567 -96.797 5.0 5 km ( 3 mi) SSE of Sparks, OK
4.0 2011/11/06 09:39:57 35.506 -96.865 5.0 3 km ( 2 mi) ENE of Meeker, OK
3.4 2011/11/06 09:22:04 35.585 -96.823 5.0 3 km ( 2 mi) S of Sparks, OK
2.7 2011/11/06 08:14:12 35.474 -96.794 5.0 7 km ( 4 mi) NNE of Johnson, OK
3.2 2011/11/06 07:32:40 35.544 -96.901 4.9 5 km ( 3 mi) N of Meeker, OK
3.8 2011/11/06 06:31:10 35.559 -96.874 5.0 7 km ( 4 mi) NNE of Meeker, OK
3.0 2011/11/06 04:54:00 35.540 -96.687 5.0 6 km ( 4 mi) N of Prague, OK
3.6 2011/11/06 04:03:41 35.554 -96.760 5.0 8 km ( 5 mi) SE of Sparks, OK
5.6 2011/11/06 03:53:10 35.537 -96.747 5.0 8 km ( 5 mi) NW of Prague, OK
3.6 2011/11/05 14:36:30 35.584 -96.789 4.9 4 km ( 2 mi) SE of Sparks, OK
3.4 2011/11/05 13:42:26 35.530 -96.766 5.0 9 km ( 5 mi) NW of Prague, OK
3.3 2011/11/05 11:24:15 35.521 -96.778 5.0 9 km ( 6 mi) WNW of Prague, OK
3.3 2011/11/05 09:12:11 35.591 -96.788 4.9 4 km ( 2 mi) SE of Sparks, OK
2.7 2011/11/05 07:50:42 35.559 -96.762 4.8 8 km ( 5 mi) SE of Sparks, OK
2.7 2011/11/05 07:44:34 35.488 -96.755 5.0 6 km ( 4 mi) W of Prague, OK
3.4 2011/11/05 07:27:20 35.566 -96.698 5.0 9 km ( 6 mi) N of Prague, OK
4.7 2011/11/05 07:12:45 35.553 -96.748 4.0 9 km ( 6 mi) SE of Sparks, OK