Shreveport Shook by Twin Quakes: What You Need to Know!
Hey there, Shreveport! If you woke up feeling a little shaken this morning, you’re not alone. Just after dawn, residents in our area experienced not one, but two earthquakes near Uncertain, Texas! The first quake, measuring a magnitude of 3.3, hit around 6:15 a.m., followed by a smaller jolt of 2.6 just shortly after. Folks in Mooringsport, Oil City, and Blanchard were quick to report the tremors, experiencing a few moments of excitement – or maybe some fright! – as the ground rumbled beneath them.
What’s Happening?
The epicenter of these quakes was located about 2.5 miles south southeast of Uncertain, Texas, right according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Residents didn’t miss a beat, with many reaching out to share their experiences. One particularly brave viewer, Angela Adams Robbins, even captured the moment on her security camera. In her video, you can catch a glimpse of her Christmas tree giving a little shimmy, just before the family dogs went into a barking frenzy. Talk about a wake-up call!
Witness Accounts
Many people felt the quake, and it seems even some of the on-air staff felt the tremor! Two technical directors reported feeling the shake in the upstairs production area while they were live on-air. They expressed disbelief, saying they had never felt anything like it before. Can you imagine trying to keep your cool on live television while the ground shakes beneath you?
Historical Context of Quakes
Now, you might be thinking, “Is this common?” Well, the truth is, this part of Caddo Parish has seen its fair share of little earthquakes. Last year, for example, the Blanchard area also felt a magnitude 3.0 earthquake, and back in 2021, another 3.0 quake was reported west of Blanchard. So, while these tremors may rattle a few bones, they’re not entirely out of the ordinary.
Why So Many Earthquakes?
What’s causing these shakes, you may wonder? According to the USGS, a lot of the recent earthquakes throughout the central United States are primarily linked to wastewater disposal from oil production rather than hydraulic fracturing (commonly known as fracking). In fact, they note that in Oklahoma, which has experienced the highest number of induced earthquakes in the country, less than 2% can be blamed directly on fracking. The majority are due to the disposal of waste fluids.
The Bigger Picture
For those interested in the statistical side of things, the largest earthquake believed to be induced by hydraulic fracturing was a magnitude 4.0 that occurred in Texas back in 2018. While those numbers can be alarming, it’s worth noting that most minor quakes pose little risk and are more of an inconvenience than a danger.
Got Stories or Footage?
We’d love to hear from you! If you captured any pictures or videos of the tremors, please feel free to share them. Your experiences help paint a fuller picture of what our community is going through during these little shakes in the earth.
In the meantime, let’s hope the ground remains calm for a while! Stay safe, Shreveport!
