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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Vegetaman (talk | contribs) at 16:20, 18 April 2008. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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Notability

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

ah, yes, West Salem, IL is east of Salem, IL. And both are south of New Salem, IL. One of the many inponderables of living in IL. 76.202.254.186 (talk) 15:56, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

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'm watching WAVE-TV and they are reporting loss of power for Caesars Indiana and damage of a facade on Kentucky AVenue between 2nd and 3rd Street, so there is some damage. Not sure how to cite it.--Bedford 10:27, 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]
Someone from the USGS said it might actually be of the Wabash Fault, not New Madrid Fault, so we might need to move the article into a new article called Wabash Fault that's part of the Wabash Valley.--Bedford 10:54, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
KSDK-TV in St. Louis confirms that it occurred in the Wabash Valley fault system, not in the New Madrid Fault system. As for an AfD, baloney. It's notable. I am so tired of exclusionists.... -- Davidkevin (talk) 13:17, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
We haven't had any seismic activity in a long time. I think it is relevant, personally. Vegetaman (talk) 10:28, 18 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
This was a 5.4 according to USGS [1] Which is the largest in Illinois recorded history also according to USGS [2], I think that makes it notable Chipotlehero (talk) 10:29, 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. --Elonka 11:25, 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 [USGS Website For this Earthquake] it has been looked at by a Seismologist and been downgraded to a 5.2 Magnitude. Necrogami :  Chat  11:52, 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. --Elonka 12:03, 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]

We just had an aftershock tremor within the last 20 minutes or so here in Peoria, Illinois. It was a pretty good one, too. Vegetaman (talk) 15:52, 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]