July 12, 1996 Auglaize County Earthquake (from Fall 1987 Ohio
Geology) In contrast to the 5.0 Richter magnitude earthquake in
Lake County on January 31, 1986, the quake that struck Auglaize
County in western Ohio on July 12, 1986, drew comparatively
little attention. Although the Auglaize County earthquake was
smaller (4.5 Richter magnitude), it was strongly felt in most of
Ohio and parts of Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, and West
Virginia. Proposed faults, major instrumentally located earth
quakes, and distribution of seismic stations in the University
of Michigan's Anna network in the western Ohio seismic zone. It
is probable that the early hour (4:19 a.m., EDT), the day
(Saturday), and, by no small means, the fact that the July 12
event was not located near a nuclear power plant all contributed
to the lesser attention given the July earthquake. This
earthquake was centered in western Auglaize County, near St.
Marys. Damages were relatively minor. Electric power to about 30
homes in St. Marys was disrupted an