For Release – February 20, 2026
Recent Earthquake Reminds Illinoisans to Take Earthquake Awareness Month Seriously
SPRINGFIELD – It was just last month that a 3.8 magnitude earthquake shook Illinois from its center in Ohlman in central Illinois’ Montgomery County. “Thousands of people across the state felt this last quake in the early morning hours of January 20,” said Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “It is a cautionary reminder that we sit between two seismic zones and earthquake preparedness should be an essential part of every household’s safety plan.”
February is Earthquake Awareness Month. While hundreds of small earthquakes occur each year in the U.S., the worst in Illinois history occurred on December 17, 1811, and was so strong that it rang a church bell in a Cairo church in southern Illinois. It also blew smoke, sand, and coal 30 yards into the air and made the Mississippi River flow backward for a moment.
Illinois rests between the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. If you feel an earthquake or receive an alert about an earthquake, you are encouraged to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” Sheltering on the floor under heavy furniture, protecting your head, and stabilizing yourself by holding onto furniture is your best chance to stay safe. Persons using walkers or wheelchairs are advised to lock down and then cover and hold on.
IEMA-OHS also recognizes the national ShakeOut drill in October and encourages all residents to join in practicing the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” earthquake response.
Disaster preparedness information is ready available from IEMA-OHS on the Ready Illinois website, a one-stop resource for detailed information about what to do before, during, and after disasters. For more information on earthquake preparedness, visit https://iemaohs.illinois.gov/preparedness/earthquake.html.
