By Curtis D. Tucker, Enid Buzz | Saturday, September 3, 2016 | UPDATE September 7, 2016
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ENID, Okla. - U.S. Geological Survey researchers are upgrading the strength of the Oklahoma earthquake that struck over the weekend to a 5.8 magnitude, making it the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the state.
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The second strongest earthquake in Oklahoma, a 5.6-magnitude temblor in 2011, is also being upgraded to a 5.7-magnitude quake. Oklahoma's larger earthquakes this year greater than magnitude 5.0 have a good chance of increasing the likelihood of larger quakes in the future.
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Saturday, September 3, 2016 will stick in the minds of many Oklahoman's for years to come. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near Pawnee, Oklahoma at 7:02 am local time. Not only was it felt in most every town in Oklahoma, it was felt in at least six neighboring states.
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The Sept. 3 quake is now the strongest earthquake ever reported in Oklahoma. The reason it was felt by so many people and why it shook areas hundreds of miles away was due to the fact tha it was a shallow quake, about 7 kilometers (4.35 miles) deep. The area continued to experience at least 11 more earthquakes throughout the day.
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An earthquake of comparable size last occurred in Oklahoma in 2011. A magnitude 5.1 earthquake also struck in Oklahoma on February 13, 2016. As far as social media is concerned, this quake caused the most engagement we've ever seen on Enid Buzz.
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Social media sites lit up only seconds after the quake. Enid Buzz was on fire with comments and people posting pics. The majority of residents in Enid thought it was the largest quake they'd ever felt. Bea Bell commented, "Big one. Thought the house was going to fall apart!" Debbie Hocutt Kaiser said, "I felt like I should get out of the house before something fell apart."
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The earthquake was centered approximately 8 miles northwest of Pawnee, a town of about 2,000 people. "Police in Pawnee report some windows were broken and homes sustained damage to the the outside facade. There have been no reports of injuries,” Public Radio Tulsa described. Local law enforcement asked that people not travel to Pawnee to view the damage. The Northeast Junior Rodeo Association of Oklahoma confirmed the rodeo in Pawnee was cancelled due to earthquake damage.
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The office of Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin tweeted that state highway crews were checking for bridge damage and the state Department of Emergency Management would assess damage and determine how to address it.
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Oklahoma Senator James Lankford was in Pawnee on Sept. 3 checking out the damage. Pawnee County Emergency Management Director Mark Randell said no buildings collapsed but photos appeared online showing bricks and stones scattered about the sidewalk next to one older looking structure.
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The USGS stated that they cannot currently conclude whether or not this particular earthquake was caused by industrial-related, human activities. However, they admitted that many earthquakes in Oklahoma have been triggered by wastewater fluid injection. The USGS is going to continue to process seismic data in the following days and weeks that will help answer this question.
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Spokesman Matt Skinner, of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission announced Saturday, “The Oklahoma Corporation Commission's Oil and Gas Division (OGCD) is in the process of implementing a mandatory directive to shut down all Arbuckle disposal wells within a 725 square mile area, based on the location of the earthquake that occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on September 3, 2016 near Pawnee. The area includes 211 square miles of Osage County, which is outside of OGCD jurisdiction. OGCD is working with the Environmental Protection Agency, which has sole jurisdiction over disposal wells in Osage County. The EPA will determine what action to take in that area.”
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5.6 Oklahoma Quake Upgraded to 5.8
