December 30, 2010
By: Bruce Berry
An earthquake has rattled homeowners in Central Indiana, shaking residents in an area where geologic activity is very uncommon.
The 3.8 magnitude quake hit early Thursday morning, with some residents telling the Indiana Star their homes shook so much they thought a car has crashed into the side of the building. The tremors were felt in several nearby states.
"It was widely felt throughout central Indiana and we have reports of people having felt it over into Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Ohio," said geophysicist Randy Baldwin at the National Earthquake Center in Golden, Colorado.
The event caught many residents off-guard, because earthquakes in the area are very rare. Officials with the Indiana Geological Survey said there were no records of an earthquake this strong ever in the region, and needed to research if the area had ever been the site of even a more minor quake.
While no significant damage has been reported so far, the Insurance Information Institute says homeowners should be aware that standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover earthquake damage, although it can generally be purchased as a separate policy.
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