# Earthquake in Oklahoma 5.2 magnitude (prelim) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 6, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029 "2011-11-06T04:16:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/1 "2011-11-06T04:16:53Z")
[USGS preliminary report](http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Quakes/usb0006klz.php). I live about 450 miles away (due east) and I believe my house creaked a little. I was watching ESPN and the post game show on the Game of the Century and Kirk Herbstreit was being interview from Stillwater and he said he felt something. Hope everyone and everything is OK in OK. These quakes in the midwest (and east coast) seem to resonant energy at bigger radii than similar size quakes on the pacific rim. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/2 "2011-11-06T04:37:39Z")
I felt a very slight shake here in Dallas, and the lamp over my dining table swayed visibly. It’s the first one I’ve felt here, though I’ve experienced stronger ones elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/3 "2011-11-06T04:39:56Z")
Now revised to 5.6 Magnitude. ---
**Author:** ![PeskiPiksi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@PeskiPiksi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeskiPiksi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/4 "2011-11-06T04:40:08Z")
Felt it here strongly in Tulsa. It’s been upgraded to a 5.6–biggest ever recorded in OK. We had one last night, too, around 2:15. I happened to be up with my baby at the time, but it was strong enough to wake a bunch of people up. Don’t know what the frack is going on. Not fair that we get tornados and now earthquakes too! I’m seriously creeped out. At least with a tornado you usually get some kind of warning. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/5 "2011-11-06T04:49:14Z")
> [@PeskiPiksi](#): > > Not fair that we get tornados and now earthquakes too! I’m seriously creeped out. Welcome to my world, living on the New Madrid Fault. And Floods too! And yes, checking [this listing of recent quakes](http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Quakes/quakes_big.php), there has been a series of quakes in the Oklahoma region. Big quake in Virginia a couple months ago, now these quakes in OK. Tornados, big ass quakes and tsunamis internationally Mother Nature has been seriously bitchy lately. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/6 "2011-11-06T05:01:46Z")
It was felt in parts of Arkansas too. Thankfully not where I live. [http://www.katv.com/story/15969384/52-quake-in-oklahoma-felt-across-arkansas](http://www.katv.com/story/15969384/52-quake-in-oklahoma-felt-across-arkansas) > [@](#): > > t was felt in not only in Oklahoma but also in Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and Kansas. There are even some reports of the quake being felt in Illinois. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/7 "2011-11-06T05:04:41Z")
> [@PeskiPiksi](#): > > Felt it here strongly in Tulsa. It’s been upgraded to a 5.6–biggest ever recorded in OK. > > We had one last night, too, around 2:15. I happened to be up with my baby at the time, but it was strong enough to wake a bunch of people up. > > Don’t know what the frack is going on. Not fair that we get tornados and now earthquakes too! I’m seriously creeped out. At least with a tornado you usually get some kind of warning. I see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/8 "2011-11-06T06:40:55Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > These quakes in the midwest (and east coast) seem to resonant energy at bigger radii than similar size quakes on the pacific rim. Part and parcel of the type of tectonic faults we have out here. The subduction zone creates very large mountain ranges (the metaphor they always use is “rumpled up carpet”) made of granite. Those mountains reflect the tectonic waves right back at the source. OK and surrounding territories have a lot of sediment and sedimentary rocks from their time under a shallow sea. Earthquake waves have a blast propagating through those rocks. The worst, though, is when you’re sitting on top of a dry lake bed, say like Mexico City. There, the tremors often cause the very fine, silty sediment to mix with groundwater and turn into mud. The ground literally liquifies underneath buildings. Not good. ---
**Author:** ![PeskiPiksi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@PeskiPiksi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeskiPiksi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/9 "2011-11-06T07:04:55Z")
[Oklahoma Earthquake Survivor Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkLzI_0v45Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player) Hee! I think all us Okies are a little giddy from the adrenaline rush tonight. My Facebook newsfeed has exploded. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/10 "2011-11-06T12:33:05Z")
I still have family and friends in Tulsa and surrounding areas. (Hallgirl2 and Hallgrandson are there visiting the in-laws for awhile while Hallgirl2’s hubby is in training school in Texas.) She texted me at midnight last night about it–safe, but a little freaked out. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/11 "2011-11-06T13:10:42Z")
Felt it strong here in the OKC. Not the same type of motion as I felt in the big LA quakes I’ve been in. More rumbling\*, and some odd (and LOUD) pounding, but no swaying or rolling. 30 to 40 secs is my time estimate. Lots of local news reports say almost a full minute. YMMV - like a 1970s era electronic football game. ---
**Author:** ![BeaMyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/12 "2011-11-06T13:11:53Z")
I am reading on the comment boards in Oklahoma papers how the quakes are caused by fracking ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/13 "2011-11-06T13:16:26Z")
Comment boards are also often full of uninformed hysteria. I’ll wait on that judgement. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/14 "2011-11-06T13:50:25Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > These quakes in the midwest (and east coast) seem to resonant energy at bigger radii than similar size quakes on the pacific rim. > [@phouka](#): > > Part and parcel of the type of tectonic faults we have out here. The subduction zone creates very large mountain ranges (the metaphor they always use is “rumpled up carpet”) made of granite. Those mountains reflect the tectonic waves right back at the source. > > OK and surrounding territories have a lot of sediment and sedimentary rocks from their time under a shallow sea. Earthquake waves have a blast propagating through those rocks. Also, areas that have a lot of earthquakes have more faults and fractured rock. Unbroken rock such as is found in low-earthquake regions transmits shockwaves more efficiently. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/15 "2011-11-06T15:36:20Z")
Someone posted in Acepace’s link that it was felt next door in Saline county, AR. Damn, I slept through it! ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/16 "2011-11-06T15:43:15Z")
Felt it here in North Texas, though it was pretty mild. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/17 "2011-11-06T17:00:04Z")
Maybe it was caused by Texas A&M’s defense collapsing in the third quarter yesterday. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/18 "2011-11-06T17:05:55Z")
> [@BeaMyra](#): > > I am reading on the comment boards in Oklahoma papers how the quakes are caused by fracking Well, not to brag or anything, but… Yes, I know only Battlestar Galactica fans will find that amusing. ---
**Author:** ![PeskiPiksi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@PeskiPiksi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeskiPiksi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/19 "2011-11-06T17:10:55Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > I see what you did there. Ha! I honestly until this moment did not realize that the word “frack” had any relevance to the topic at hand. I’ve gotten into the habit of substituting variations on naughty words because I have two small kids, and “frack” is my go to word for fuck. So totally an accident on my part. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tess\_Trueheart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Tess\_Trueheart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tess_Trueheart)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029/20 "2011-11-06T18:00:10Z")
Here in Stillwater, there was one felt around 3am Saturday as well as the one late Saturday night that caused everybody on facebook to freak out within 5 minutes. I was still up late when the first one happened - having never been in a quake before, I thought my neighbors were having some extremely energetic fun until I logged on Saturday morning and found out what it really was! The night-time one was immediately after our football game ended, so thousands of people were out and about. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquake-in-oklahoma-5-2-magnitude-prelim/602029.md?page=2)