Update: Quake near McLoud felt more than 300 miles away

While it certainly wasn’t an unfathomable, terrain-changing epoch—or anything close to it for that matter—the magnitude-3.4 earthquake that ruptured three miles beneath the ground Wednesday near McLoud was still remarkable as far as local quakes are concerned.
In fact, Wednesday’s earthquake was the second-largest in Pottawatomie County history. And it was only the second quake recorded in the county that generated “felt” reports. The first “felt” earthquake happened before the United States entered World War II.
Ken Luza, engineering geologist at the Oklahoma Geological Survey, said he was aware of “more than 30 reports” from nearby cities and communities regarding Wednesday’s earthquake.
On the U.S. Geological Survey’s Web site, which has a special section for recording earthquakes larger than 1.0 on the Richter scale, there have been 18 reports sent in by the public. One of the reports is from Cleburne, Texas—340 miles south of the epicenter near McLoud. People also reported feeling the quake 138 miles away in Lone Grove and Claremore, 175 miles away from McLoud.
Seven people in the Wellston area filed “felt” reports with USGS within hours of the noontime quake on Wednesday and the Lincoln County communications center reported numerous calls after the earthquake rattled the area.
People also reported feeling the quake in Luther, Norman, Choctaw, Tulsa and Harrah.
Only one report originated in McLoud.
Kristina Piper, a utility clerk who works at McLoud’s municipal complex, said she was working in town on Wednesday and didn’t feel a thing.
The McLoud Police Department hadn’t received any reports of damage, an officer said Thursday. Neither had the officials in Lincoln County.
Luza said there has only been 26 earthquakes recorded in Pottawatomie County since scientists began tracking such data. He said the largest earthquake recorded in Pottawatomie County occurred just south of Shawnee on June 8, 1937. That one was a magnitude-3.6, the same size as the state’s largest recorded quake thus far in 2009. That earthquake was detected in Oklahoma County in March.
The area in Oklahoma that experiences the most seismic activity lies between Norman and Pauls Valley, Luza said.
If you have damage from the quake or would like to discuss your “felt” report with the News-Star, call 214-3926.
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Andrew Knittle may be reached at 214-3926.