Is there a major earthquake on the way in Illinois?

ILLINOIS (WCIA) – You may not think of earthquakes in Illinois, but Illinois actually sits on two seismic zones, including one that is home to the most powerful earthquakes ever to occur in the continental United States.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) said the quakes occurred during the winter of 1811-12 in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ). Experts estimate that if the same series of earthquakes were to occur today, it would cause between $60 and $80 billion in damage in today’s dollars.

An earthquake was reported Thursday afternoon in central Illinois, western Indiana

IEMA said Illinois is in fact at risk from two major seismic zones: the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone (WVSZ) located in southeastern Illinois and the NMSZ that includes parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee. They report that there is a 25% to 40% chance that an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or greater will occur in the NMSZ seismic zone over a 50-year time period.

More than 3,000 earthquakes have been recorded in the NMSZ since the network began monitoring seismic activity in 1974. None of these earthquakes exceeded magnitude 5.0, IEMA said.

The largest earthquake in recent years occurred in Mount Carmel, Illinois in the WVSZ region recording a magnitude of 5.4 in April 2008.

“Illinois is located between the New Madrid Rift Zone and the Wabash Valley seismic region,” said IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nado. “I want everyone to understand the risks and know what to do if we have a major earthquake.”

Earthquake preparedness

February is Earthquake Awareness Month, and the International Energy Agency (IEMA) is sharing tips on how to stay safe if an earthquake strikes in Illinois.

In the event of an earthquake in Illinois, IEMA advises everyone to:

Get down on the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk, table, or other similar piece of furniture, and hold on to that object until the shaking is over.

“Check your personal preparedness kits, and review your family and work emergency plans,” said Tate Nadeau. “Update your emergency contact information and locate a safe place where you can take shelter during an earthquake.”

An expert weighs in the 2021 earthquake felt across central Illinois

IEMA also encourages schools, workplaces, and others to sign up for International ShakeOut Day on October 19 to build on the information promoted in February. Learn more about the Great ShakeOut Drill and get involved at https://www.shakeout.org/centralus/.

Another thing to consider is homeowners insurance.

“Standard homeowners’ insurance policies generally do not cover earthquake damage,” said Dana Bobish-Severinghouse, director of the Illinois Department of Insurance. “However, Illinois consumers can purchase earthquake coverage as an endorsement of an existing homeowner’s policy. Like other types of insurance, coverage costs will vary depending on the home’s structure, age, location, and potential earthquake hazards in the area.”

Homeowners should discuss further with their insurance agent about adding earthquake insurance.

More information related to earthquakes can be found here.

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