5.2 earthquke rocks Illinois

Unusual to have one that strong, but mild quakes are fairly common along the New Madrid fault. What really interested me was how far it was felt. According to the USGS,

"Earthquakes of comparable size are felt over greater distances in the East than
those occurring in the West," said Harley Benz, seismologist for the USGS.
"Earthquakes in the central U.S. are infrequent, but not unexpected."

I guess that's due to rock type or not so much folding in the crust or something like that. It's a reminder that the midsection of the country shouldn't be complacent when it comes to building codes and preparedness. None of us should be.

UPDATE: Aha! ABC's article explains:

While the crust of the earth in the western United States is full of
fractures, there is less geological activity in the Midwest and the Eastern
landscape.

The soil there is stronger, more continuous, which means that
seismic waves -- uninterrupted by fractures -- can travel much farther and why
people in Georgia felt the morning's quakes, according to Seeber. The geology,
therefore, also makes the Midwest and the East more vulnerable.

"It's well-known the same size earthquake can do a lot more damage in the eastern
U.S., where there's not geologic activity," Seeber said. "In the eastern U.S.,
the rocks are stronger. The waves go through and go for a longer distance."