Did you feel it??!!!
On Friday April 18, 2008, at 4:36am, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook the Midwest. It occurred 7 miles underground in the area of West Salem, Illinois. The earthquake was felt nearly 900 miles away, including parts of Georgia and Alabama.
Michelle was awakened with her bed shaking. She thought it was her dog until she heard things rattling and tapping on the walls. Having experienced the April 29, 2003 4.9 magnitude earthquake centered in Mentone, AL, she realized what was going on. She immediately turned on the news and then the Weather Channel but there were no reports. So, she went back to bed. When she got up around 7:00am, she went online and it was all over the news. She was surprised to find out it was centered in Illinois. She reported it by email to the USGS.gov site. Then she sent another email and reported it to our local news affiliate, Fox 6 news. In a few hours, a reporter called. Much to her surprise, he asked if she would mind sharing her account of the earthquake on camera.
Before long, the reporter, Dixon Hayes, arrived to shoot the interview.
Dixon began unpacking his equipment and telling her what to expect during the interview.
All Monte's kids and Michelle's family were gathered off to the side to watch this momentous occasion.
Michelle was a little nervous as she waited for the camera to roll.
In just a few minutes, the camera was rolling and she was giving her account of the event.
Dixon took several different types of shots and not just the interview. He wanted to get some shots of the house to show where the event actually occurred.
We had a little time after the interview to talk.
So, we told him about our rock hunting adventures and our website. Michelle showed him her cut piece of Amethyst from JXR she was wearing.
We just had to have a group shot before he left.
Michelle was also called by the editor of our local newspaper and her story ended up on the top of the FRONT PAGE!! How cool is that!! (I think she’s charging for autographs now!!!)
Dixon told us the report would be on the 5:00pm news that night. She ended up on the 5:00 AND 9:00 news!
Michelle was also contacted by the EMA (Emergency Management Agency). They told her she was the only person in our county to report having felt the earthquake. They also told her that NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency) and another agency involved in seismic research and information was interested in contacting her. And they would be in touch soon.
WOW, exciting things happen when the rocks dance in Alabama!
