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I just felt an Aftershock! (second quake?) 10:16 AM local time, lasting about 10-15 seconds (I live 45m south of epicenter) This is the 4th earthquake of 4+ magnitude I've felt in Southern Illinois - lived here since 1986. Thought the map pinpoint was wrong, how can West Salem be east of Salem?. Also - what official source says this was the largest in Illinois History? This confuses me cause I know it's wrong. --Midnite42 10:47, 18 April 2008
I didn't AfD this article mainly since this event just happened, but Fox and local news stations are reporting that there was no damage. I feel that unless there's a significant story beyond the fact that some people in the midwest has never felt an earthquake before, I don't see it meeting any notability criteria. Utopianheaven (talk) 10:24, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
I think it's considerably early to tag for AfD or anything else. As I noted on your talk page, Utopiaheaven, it's still dark here. Give it some time for daylight to arrive and for damage to be fully assessed. I would point out that this earthquake occurred in the New Madrid Fault region, which has been noted by scientists for many years as being "due" for a major seismic event. You're right, many Midwesterners haven't ever felt an earthquake. But, I'd say that's part of the reason this is a notable event because it isn't something that occurs every day in this part of the country, unlike - say - southern California.
If nothing else, if it turns out that this was a minor event in terms of damage, then I highly suggest merging whatever this article becomes into a new section of the New Madrid Fault article. Respectfully, --InDeBiz1 (talk) 10:35, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Merge. The section in New Madrid Fault seems an appropriate location for the event, notwithstanding significant new details. I'm personally in central Illinois, so we got a good little shake, emergency crews came out in droves, but nothing really came of it. I feel this was, by no means, a "major" seismic event compared to established earthquate standards though. However, I won't be making a major push for the merge until any new news on what all happened comes out. Utopianheaven (talk) 10:49, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, obviously notable. Not even meriting discussion at this point. I always get a chuckle at the race to tag articles for deletion. Tool2Die4 (talk) 11:21, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
I agree it's too early to consider deletion, but I'd point out that the 5.4 scale is a preliminary rating only, so I'd be cautious about original research and saying it's the largest quake in Illinois until we have a source using that terminology. As a matter of fact, I just heard a TV news report that the level was downgraded from 5.4 to 5.2. So, let's be cautious here. --Elonka11:25, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Even then, I would point that earthquakes of 5+ magnitude are rare in this region. I can make the argument that it's notable on its own, for that reason and the one that I noted above.--InDeBiz1 (talk) 11:33, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
According to television reports here in St. Louis, the strongest quake in the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone was a 5.4 quake in 1968. So yes, 5.2 is in the "notable" range. I recommend that we postpone any discussion of deletion though for at least 48 hours. This article is going to get a burst of activity today, since millions of people were woken up by this quake, and news programs in at least three states are doing coverage every few minutes. --Elonka12:03, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Agreed. I've got the article watchlisted, so I'll be updating as I get opportunities throughout the day at work and I'll keep an eye out for any vandalism / etc. --InDeBiz1 (talk) 12:11, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Also to note: This Earthquake happened 102 Years and within the Halfhour(EDT) of the Earthquake in San Francisco of 1906 that destroyed most of the city. Necrogami : Chat 12:27, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
UPDATE! Somebody may want to clean up my citation, but Peoria also reported the second tremor as of 10:16 AM. As per the headline on the same link as the first one links to: ""PEORIA: Second earthquake felt following early-morning quake:: UPDATED 10:16 a.m"" ""A second round of seismic activity shook Peoria at 10:14 a.m.,"" Vegetaman (talk) 16:18, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]