Earthquake Shakes Oklahoma City Area

December 3, 2008

A small earthquake rattled homes in the Oklahoma City metro area on the night of Dec. 1, authorities said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injury with the quake, which struck about 8:50 p.m.

The temblor registered 2.7 on the Richter scale, Amie Gibson, a research specialist with the Oklahoma Geological Survey, said.

The survey received reports from Tinker Air Force Base and residences in Midwest City, Del City and as far west as N.W. 122 Street and MacArthur Boulevard, Gibson said. By 10:30 p.m., the survey had received 35 reports from people who felt the quake.

Most of the calls to emergency dispatchers were centered around the N.E. 29 Street and Martin Luther King Avenue area, Oklahoma City fire Deputy Chief Cecil Clay said.

Sharmaine McKee, who lives near N.E. 17 Street and Grand Boulevard, said she and her husband were watching television when the house shook.

“It shook my whole bed, then the dogs started barking,” McKee said. “It was something we’d never experienced.”

The episode lasted about 10 seconds.

Anyone who felt or heard the quake is asked to submit a report of their experience to the geological survey’s Web site at www.okgeosurvey1.gov.

Information from: The Oklahoman, www.newsok.com