TERRE HAUTE —
Indiana State University freshman Patrick Buhl experienced a violent 7.0 magnitude earthquake Wednesday.
And a 3.0 magnitude earthquake.
And a 5.5 earthquake.
It all happened within a matter of seconds in Terre Haute at what is called the Quake Cottage, an earthquake simulator that mimics the shaking experienced during a real earthquake.
Representatives of the Indiana Geological Survey operate the Quake Cottage, which is funded by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to promote earthquake education and preparedness.
Buhl described the back-and-forth, rolling motion of the 3.0 simulated quake as “pretty tame.” He thought the 5.5 was the 7.0, and when he finally did experience the violent shaking of the 7.0, “I was pretty shocked at how powerful it was.”
He visited the Quake Cottage at an ISU parking lot as part of an environmental science class. Reacting to the experience, Buhl said, “It would be nice to be prepared for one. If a 7.0 [earthquake] hits your house, there probably won’t be a whole lot left.”
The cottage is a 25- by 8- by 14-foot unit mounted on a double-axle trailer. The interior replicates a typical living room. Items inside are fastened down to protect occupants.
Earthquakes occur infrequently in Indiana, which causes a lot of complacency, said Walter Gray, educational outreach coordinator with the Indiana Geological Survey. But Hoosiers need to take them seriously.
Indiana has experienced major earthquakes in the past — researchers suggest at least four events in the last 12,000 years that had a magnitude of 6.0 to 7.0, Gray said.
And it’s likely Indiana will experience another, although when is anyone’s guess. “It’s beyond the capability of our science to predict earthquakes,” Gray said.
The Indiana Geological Survey (IGS) website states, “It is reasonable to conclude that we do indeed face the possibility of experiencing the potentially devastating effects of a major earthquake at some point in the future.”
Terre Haute is at risk from the Wabash Valley Fault zone and the New Madrid Fault.
The IGS uses the Quake Cottage to educate people about potential risks and hazards. IGS staff also teach people about some inexpensive steps they can take in their home or business that can protect property and save lives, Gray said.
That could include strapping the hot water heater to the wall to prevent fires and to preserve a fresh water supply, he said. Other possible measures include flexible connection pipes between appliances and their supply lines; earthquake straps to prevent bookcases or china cabinets from falling over; and earthquake putty to keep family heirlooms or vases from falling over.
Also, there is heavy emphasis on emergency disaster kits, Gray said. As Hurricane Sandy has demonstrated, it takes a while for emergency response to take place after a disaster, he said.
ISU’s Department of Earth and Environmental Systems and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Program arranged for the Quake Cottage to visit campus. ISU students, staff, faculty and OLLI participants visited the cottage throughout the day.
Suzanne Walters and Brenda Lower, staff members in the department of Earth and Environmental Systems, both participated.
Walters described the 3.0 earthquake simulation as “kind of like when you hit turbulence in an airplane,” while a 5.0 was “like a roller coaster ride.” As for a 7.0: “It was rocky — we sat in a chair, and we were sliding forward and coming out of the chair.” There were handles to hold onto, she said.
The 7.0 magnitude simulation “knocked your bottom out of the seat,” Lower said.
Items would have fallen out of bookcases and cabinets, but straps, latches, earthquake putty and other devices were used to keep everything in place and from falling over.
While it was eye-opening, “I know when you’re in the real thing it would be quite different than sitting in a simulator,” Walters said.
Both learned that installation of flexible pipe fittings could help avoid gas and water leaks. Lower said that’s something she’ll think about when she installs a new furnace at her home next year.
Tony Rathburn, ISU professor of geology, had students in his Wednesday classes visit Quake Cottage.
“I hope they get a greater awareness of the fact that the Midwest can experience a significant earthquake,” he said. “We’re not really prepared in the Midwest, in general, for an earthquake of any size.”
The geology in the Midwest lends itself to widespread damage in the event of a major earthquake, he and Gray said.
“We’re going to experience earthquakes,” Rathburn said. “There is no doubt about it. Certainly in the past, we’ve experienced some very big ones.”
For more information about the Quake Cottage program, go to www.igs.indiana.edu/EarthquakeExperience.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Earthquake simulator visited Indiana State campus Wednesday
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A proposal that revamps sex education in Illinois public schools to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases has cleared the state Senate.
-
Gregg pondering 2nd run for Indiana governor
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg is pondering another run at the state's top job, but has yet to make a decision.
-
Illinois senator apologizes for Nazi remark
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter has apologized for remarks that compared a member of Gov. Pat Quinn’s cabinet to a Nazi.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 22, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Tuesday and Wednesday, based on jail records.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 21, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
-
UPDATE: Damage surveys show 2 weak tornadoes hit near Indy
INDIANAPOLIS — The National Weather Service says storm surveys show two weak tornadoes struck central Indiana.
-
Storm causes scattered Indiana power outages
INDIANAPOLIS — A line of thunderstorms that moved across Indiana caused scattered building damage and power outages for several thousand homes and businesses.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
UPDATE: 5 killed, 6 injured in I-70 van crash in Illinois
ST. LOUIS — A van carrying church members returning from a California gathering careened off of a southern Illinois freeway and overturned several times today, killing five people and sending six others to hospitals, authorities said.
-
2 children reported dead from Indianapolis fire
INDIANAPOLIS — Authorities say some autistic children lived in the Indianapolis condominium unit where a fire has killed two children.
-
Tighter Indiana drunken driving law seems unlikely
INDIANAPOLIS — Some key Indiana legislators say it’s unlikely that the state will any time soon go along with a federal safety board’s recommendation that the threshold for drunken driving be cut nearly in half.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 20, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, based on jail records.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” - More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill




