DETROIT – An earthquake occurred in Michigan this afternoon.
The quake, centered nine miles southeast of Kalamazoo, hit at 12:23 PM. It was a magnitude 4.2 quake, which is not capable of causing major damage. However, it was felt here in southeast Michigan.
"It's rare for Michigan to experience earthquakes, but as we were reminded today, it does happen," Gov. Rick Snyder said. "There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage because of today's earthquake, and that's fortunate because we are acutely aware of the challenges posed by such natural disasters in other parts of the world recently. The Michigan State Police is ready to assist in any emergency that strikes our state."
"I was in my kitchen and thought, wow that wind is strong, because the glasses in my cupboard were clinking together," said Karee Strome of West Bloomfield.
Nikki Miller tweeted the following: "@PGLocal4 felt it in Mt. Clemens. The house creaked and then I felt my head bob back & forth a few times. Freaked me out!"
Dawn Ducca also tweeted me: "@PGLocal4 that explains why my house was shaking here in Saline."
The quake was detected by the Michigan Technological University seismograph, pictured below.
This "did you feel it?" map from the U.S. Geological Survey shows, as of 12:50 PM, where the quake was reported to have been felt.
Earthquakes are not common here in Michigan, because our state is not on any significant fault lines, but they do occasionally occur. And by the way, the sirens that sounded at 1:00 PM is the monthly test, and has nothing to do with the earthquake.