2004 Utica earthquake

The 2004 Utica Earthquake was a 4.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred on June 28, 2004 at about 1:11 am which affected northern Illinois and was mostly felt in Utica, Illinois and surrounding rural towns. Its epicenter was located two miles south of Prairie Center, Illinois and could be felt as far away as Olive Branch, Mississippi.

The earthquake was the first in LaSalle County, Illinois since September 1972. It occurred beneath the surface in a structure associated with the Sandwich Fault Zone. It was not connected with the New Madrid Fault farther south, which has been linked to the Midwest's most serious earthquakes. No injuries were reported; the relative mildness of the earthquake and the time it occurred both contributed to the general quiteness of the situation. Three nearby nuclear power plants—LaSalle, Quad Cities, and Dresden—issued low-level alerts, but no damage was found.

External links

• USGS Earthquake Poster - Poster of the affected area, including historical data and Generalized Seismic Hazard