Residents’ reaction when the earthquake shook Great Falls

(Update, 6:35 p.m.) A second, much smaller earthquake rocked the area at about 5:47 p.m., with its epicenter just south of the previous, larger quake, and recorded as a 2.7-magnitude quake, according to the USGS. Several people told KRTV they felt this way.

An earthquake rocked Cascade County Thursday, shaking buildings and surprising residents across Great Falls and beyond.

Initial reports indicated a 5.1-magnitude earthquake, but the US Geological Survey soon confirmed a 4.2-magnitude earthquake. The earthquake occurred at 12:41 p.m., and was centered about 4.9 miles northeast of Great Falls and at a depth of about 13.6 miles.

MTN News was interviewing Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter (for an unrelated story) when the earthquake struck – watch the video:

Residents’ reaction when the earthquake shook Great Falls

The shaking was felt throughout the city, causing buildings, shelves and furniture to shake for several seconds. Most people reported that the vibration and roar lasted for 10 to 15 seconds.

At Ferrin’s Furniture in Great Falls, business owners say the quake was impossible to miss.

“It shocked us pretty good,” owner Andy Vereen said. “A bit of a dissonance. Yes, I’ve been here for 30 years of my life, and this is my second earthquake.”

Ferrin said nothing fell or broke, but he said you could almost see the walls moving: “I almost lost my footing. I was talking to customers at the time who were from California, and they said, ‘Yes, it was an earthquake!'” I thought something had exploded outside.

Angel Gonzalez was broadcasting live when the earthquake struck – watch:

Great Falls man experiences earthquake

Among the messages and comments from people who felt it:

My kitchen was shaking so hard it scared me – on the ground floor near Target, 4th floor on Benefici North it was a wake up call… the sound was shaking as if someone drove the car into our house! Some things fell on the mantle and one actually fell. It felt like something hit the side of my house. Huge bang and death rattle. It shook me so hard, we thought our deck would shake, it shook our house, and it knocked things off the shelves in our kitchen.

We also received reports that people felt it in Chester, Shelby, Bigfork, Helena and White Sulfur Springs.

Malmstrom Air Force Base, which maintains dozens of nuclear missiles throughout the region, said in a press release: “We can confirm that there has been no impact to our Airmen or our mission. All operations are proceeding as usual. Immediately following the event, teams of our dedicated Airmen conducted comprehensive inspections across the entire base and missile complex. We found no damage to any of our equipment or facilities, and the security of the missile complex remains completely intact.”

No injuries or serious damage were reported as a result of the earthquake.

The epicenter of the earthquake is northeast of Great Falls

However, the sudden movement sparked widespread concern and curiosity, prompting many residents to check with friends, family and civic leaders.

The earthquake also led to an increase in emergency calls. Authorities say the police department received 73 calls to the 911 emergency line related to the earthquake within 20 minutes — compared to the usual rate of six per hour — even though none were emergency.

Officials reminded residents that 911 should only be used in true emergencies, even during unusual events such as earthquakes, and that non-emergency lines are the appropriate option for general questions or concerns.

Earthquakes in Montana The Treasure State is located in one of the most seismically active regions in the United States. The Intermontane Seismic Belt, which runs through the western third of the state, is where the majority of Montana’s seismic activity occurs. The vast majority of earthquakes are very small, and people rarely feel them.

However, there have been some notable earthquakes in Montana’s history, including the 7.3 magnitude Hebgen Lake earthquake on August 17, 1959. The earthquake released more than 160 new geysers throughout Yellowstone National Park. There were also about 28 deaths due to the rockslide in Madison Canyon.

On July 6, 2017, one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Montana in decades shook the community of Lincoln northwest of Helena. Its center was 5.5 miles southeast of Lincoln and at a depth of about 2.6 miles. People reported feeling the 5.8-magnitude quake across Montana and the Northwest, with some reports coming in from as far away as Vancouver and Lethbridge, Canada.

It caused some minor damage, but there were no deaths or serious injuries.

The plains of central and eastern Montana are less prone to earthquakes, but few significant earthquakes have been reported.

According to the USGS, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Montana on May 15, 1909. Several smaller earthquakes were recorded in Roosevelt County, including a 4.5 magnitude earthquake in the town of Freud that caused some damage to a grain bin in 1943.

Although it has been some time since the state has seen a devastating earthquake, small earthquakes occur several times every day. Click here to learn more about earthquake preparedness.

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