Earthquake Shakes Southeast Nebraska
Save Email Print
Bookmark and Share
Updated: 1:20 PM Dec 17, 2009
Earthquake Shakes Southeast Nebraska
It's not everyday an earthquake rattles Nebraska, but it happened Wednesday night in southeast Nebraska.
Posted: 9:36 AM Dec 17, 2009
Reporter: KOLNKGIN
Email Address: desk@1011now.com
width:200 and height: 120 and picwidth: 200 and pciheight: 120
Font Size:

It's not everyday an earthquake rattles Nebraska, but it happened Wednesday night in southeast Nebraska.

According the the U.S. Geological Survey, a 3.5 magnitude earthquake hit at 8:53 p.m. Wednesday. It was reportedly centered two miles north-northwest of Auburn.

Laura Wenzle from Elk Creek says her parents who live in Steinauer said it sounded just like a helicopter.

"We were sitting in our living room here in Elk Creek, Nebraska, and we heard a big rumble and we didn't know what was happening and all of our plates on our wall, we've got collectors plates, they started shaking. And it was just kind of like a big wave went through the house and, I don't know, it's kind of hard to describe. But it gave me goosebumps, and I still have goosebumps from it," said Wenzle.

This is not the first earthquake reported in Nebraska. Ray Burchett, former emeritus professor at UNL and author of "Earthquakes in Nebraska" says there's been about 50 earthquakes in Nebraska dating back to 1865.

"The largest earthquake that we have had in Nebraska is about 5.1 magnitude; usually it's felt by about everybody. It will wake up a lot of people, dishes are broken, some windows can be broken and unstable objects are overturned. We have only had three of those (magnitude 5 earthquakes) that have occurred in Nebraska: one in 1877 up in the northeastern part of Seward County near Garland, and then in 1935 there was one in Tecumseh and then in 1964 up in Cherry County near the town of Merriman. They did not cause any loss of life or anything and not much damage, but they were certainly felt from a long ways away," said Burchett.

"Earthquakes are a weakness in the earth's crust. There is a Humboldt fault zone that runs practically north and south starting down around the town of Humboldt then running south into Kansas then running to the northeast corner of Omaha," said Burchett.

10/11 has received several comments about flashes seen in the sky Wednesday night and a possible meteor at the same time of the earthquake. Nemaha County Emergency Management has confirmed reports of a possible meteor Wednesday night. The USGS says it is nearly impossible for a meteor to cause an earthquake. The two incidents are simply coincidental and there has been no confirmation of a meteor strike.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 3, 2010 at 06:39 AM

War of the Worlds people, bright flash, shaking earth, here they come!!!
Posted by: Jon Location: NE Kansas on Dec 20, 2009 at 09:55 AM

We live in NE Kansas just across the NE line. We did INDEED see a flash of light much like lighning and witnessed a fireball moving from the NW to the East.
Posted by: Watchful on Dec 18, 2009 at 10:05 AM

The first report of the meteor was at 8:33pm. The report would have come in AFTER the siting. The tremor (earthquake) was documented at 8:53pm by instruments which monitor these things. Simple physics like the speed of light or the speed of sound make it easy to believe the two phenomena were unrelated. 20 minutes to feel the concussion from a nearby (over 100 miles away) meteor strike does not fit the math. Makes for a good story though. Keep up the drinking in Superior and Elk Creek! Come up with something else that is more believable next time the earth moves. :)
Posted by: anonymous Location: east of epicenter 15 on Dec 17, 2009 at 06:12 PM

was definitely a meteor-like occurance right in that area at the same time.. several here witnessed it.... however since professional astronomers such chris, makayla, don didnt see it.. guess it didnt happen...heheh
Posted by: Gary Location: Tecumseh on Dec 17, 2009 at 05:11 PM

I felt the earthquake. But the greatest thing of this story has to be the people in Elk Creeks house.
Posted by: Laurie Location: Julian on Dec 17, 2009 at 02:55 PM

Not Fair --- we already have tornado's and now earthquakes... What's next, the Missouri River will have a hurricane??
Posted by: anonymous Location: Lincoln on Dec 17, 2009 at 01:32 PM

I was doing homework on my computer at about that time and my internet connection unexpectedly quit. I couldn't get it back up until about 9:15. I didn't feel anything, but I think the internet lines were messed up because of it. A few of my friends in Lincoln had the same problem.
Posted by: Chris Location: Peru on Dec 17, 2009 at 12:30 PM

I was within a few miles of the epicenter of the quake. It was not a meteor and I did not see a flash of light. It was an earthquake and nothing else.
Posted by: Ben on Dec 17, 2009 at 11:45 AM

I would hope it was a meteor to open people's eyes to the fact's about Space, and the Threat random rocks pose. But it might prove to be just an earthquake. Investigation is required. CONTACT your local goverment office in writing to demamd more money be spent on space and less on the army. Im sure more people would rather be astronauts then soilders :)
Posted by: matilla Location: Superior, NE on Dec 17, 2009 at 11:18 AM

Craziness, I tell you! Craziness!! not a meteor...
Posted by: Makayla Location: Superior on Dec 17, 2009 at 11:14 AM

A meteor did not hit it was an earthquake...thats it!
Posted by: Fatness Location: Maryland on Dec 17, 2009 at 10:48 AM

There was a meteor sighting at approximately the same time, but the earthquake may have just been coincidental. If it did cause the quake, there would be one hell of a crater out there and easy to find. Or, you could blame it on top secret government bomb tests. Take your pick!
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 17, 2009 at 10:32 AM

It wasn't a meteor. There is a fault line that lies down there. Every few years there is an earthquake.
Posted by: Nate Location: Beatrice on Dec 17, 2009 at 10:31 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_Fault
Posted by: Mark Location: Lincoln on Dec 17, 2009 at 09:50 AM

Better get earthquake insuance before the aftershock hits in a few days, which might be even stronger.
Sam and Louie's Pizzeria Big Bonus Bucks
First at 4
Special Features
Community Calendar Community Calendar
Search and post upcoming community events
Healthy Everyday Healthy Everyday - The Hearing Clinic
Health tips and stories
It's Your Shot It's Your Shot
Share your photos
Buy It Nebraska Buy It Nebraska
Sell your stuff... buy some more!
Lance's Journal Lance's Journal
Nebraska's hidden treasures
Moms Everyday MomsEveryday.com
Advice for all Moms!
It's Your Shot - Kids, Pets and Randoms!

AP Video