3.5 Earthquake Hits Southern Illinois, Felt Across Tri-State

Did You Feel That? A 3.5 Earthquake Hit Southern Illinois Overnight

If you woke up in the middle of the night feeling a little uneasy, you weren't imagining things.

The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed a 3.5 magnitude earthquake struck southern Illinois just after 2 this morning, centered about four miles northeast of West Salem. And yes, people felt it right here in the Tri-State. Reports are already coming in from Vanderburgh, Gibson, and Warrick counties.

Now before you brush it off, here's why you should actually pay attention to this.

Why Earthquakes in Our Area Matter

Earthquakes are very easy to overlook and not take seriously. We have enough weather worries to deal with in the Midwest to where it gets overlooked, I get it. But we don't talk about it enough, but the Tri-State sits close to the New Madrid Seismic Zone, one of the most active earthquake zones in the entire country. Fun fact, I used to do a lot of Earthquake Awareness stories in New Madrid when I was in the news. However, I did that because it's important and here are some important things to know. A 3.5 is relatively minor, but it's a good reminder that bigger earthquakes can and do happen in this part of the country. Scientists have warned for years that a major New Madrid earthquake could be devastating for the Midwest. We're not saying panic, we're saying be prepared.

What to Do During an Earthquake

Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Get under a sturdy table or desk and protect your head and neck.
Stay away from windows. Shattered glass is one of the biggest hazards.
If you're outside, stay outside. Move away from buildings, power lines, and anything that could fall.
If you're driving, pull over. Stay away from bridges and overpasses.
After the shaking stops, watch for aftershocks. They can follow minutes, hours, or even days later.

Be Ready Before It Happens

Keep an emergency kit in your home with water, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, and enough food for at least three days. Know where your gas shutoff valve is. Have a family meeting point in case you can't reach each other by phone.

A little preparation goes a long way, especially living this close to the New Madrid fault.

Stay safe out there, Evansville. And if you felt last night's earthquake, let us know!

To learn more about if there has ever been a big earthquake in our area and what to do when it happens: click here