Magnitude 4.2 earthquake strikes near Oklahoma City, hundreds report shaking
Digital Reporter
Tuesday, August 19, 2014, 9:27 AM - The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed a magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Guthrie, Oklahoma Tuesday morning.
No injuries or significant damage have been reported, but several people took to Twitter to report the shaking.
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"Felt like a truck just hit our house," one person tweeted. "Never felt an earthquake like that...Wow," said another in disbelief.
Oklahoma City just got rocked with what many are calling "the strongest earthquake I've ever felt," per loads of tweets.
— Brian Rie$ (@moneyries) August 19, 2014RAW VIDEO: 4.2 #quake rattles @KFOR news studio LIVE, in central #Oklahoma. https://t.co/GCf67ZoKVP
— AUS News Network (@AusNewsNetwork) August 19, 2014
RECENT SPIKE IN OKLAHOMA QUAKES
Since October 2013, seismologists have documented a nearly 50 percent spike in earthquake activity in Oklahoma, significantly increasing the chance for a damaging tremor to occur.
A recent U.S. Geological Survey and Oklahoma Geological Survey analysis has revealed that 145 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater occurred in Oklahoma between January and May 2, 2014, replacing the previous annual record of 109 earthquakes set back in 2013.
The spike in activity is especially alarming when compared to the 1978-2008 average earthquake rate of only two magnitude 3.0 or larger earthquakes per year.
“While it’s been known for decades that Oklahoma is 'earthquake country' we hope that this new advisory of increased hazard will become a crucial consideration in earthquake preparedness for residents, schools and businesses in the area,” said Dr. Bill Leith, Senior Science Advisor for Earthquakes and Geologic Hazards at USGS, in a statement. “Building owners and government officials should have a special concern for older, unreinforced brick structures, which are vulnerable to serious damage during sufficient shaking.”
RELATED: Get an in-depth analysis of Oklahoma earthquake activity from digital meteorologist Scott Sutherland
With files from Cheryl Santa Maria
