Biggest Earthquake in Oklahoma History
Being more used to tornadoes than earthquakes, Oklahoma residents got the shock of their lives when earthquakes up to 5.6 in magnitude shook their whole state this weekend.
The first quake was felt on Saturday morning with a recorded magnitude of 4.7; only to be followed by another one Saturday night that would beat 1952's record of a 5.5-magnitude quake. While the U.S. Geological Survey confirms the data that this is indeed the biggest earthquake in the state's history, citizens are more concerned about the devastated infrastructure and those that were injured.
The first quake in what would be a series of tremors and aftershocks was focused in Prague, Oklahoma. Jim Greff, the city's manager, shared the extent of the damage-a chimney fell right through the roof of one home and part of the ceiling of the local library buckled; no injured parties were reported though.
Highway 62 (located west of Prague) collapsed in 3 different places and sent a boulder roughly the size of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) hurling through a rural road in East Lincoln County. This reported by Aaron Bennet, East Lincoln's emergency management division's dispatch supervisor.
The second quake was centered 4 miles east of Oklahoma City. Local business owner of Sparks Vineyard and Winery, JL Gilbert, recounts the quake's interval at a solid half minute. "It was a pretty good jolt. We're not used to this. We're used to being sucked up into the wind," Gilbert says, referring to the state's predisposition towards hurricanes, to TheGuardian.co.uk.
Gilbert also reported one injury that happened in his place of business as an employee was sent to the hospital after hitting his head on a doorway in a mad rush to get to his home.
More local accounts of damage and destruction are yet to be accounted for and are sure to surface in the wake of this event.