Quarry Blast 'Felt Like a Truck Hit the House,' 'Pictures Jumped Off Walls' (COMMENTS)

Here's what people had to say on the La Grange Patch Facebook page:

• Dawn said she felt it downtown, near the train station. "We thought a truck hit the building in the alley, because that is a common occurrence."
• Liliana said, "My mom heard it and felt it at 50th and Ashland. She says she wouldn't be surprised if there are cracks in the walls of her house. Direct quote: 'It felt like the house shook right off of its foundation."
• Monique said, "We're real close to the quarry and felt a normal blast followed by the house levitating about 5 seconds later."
• Jamie said, "(It) Totally shook my house. Heard the blast. Felt the shake."
• Sean said, "Felt and heard it on Stone. Shook all the glassware in the cabinets."
• Karen said, "No way it was the quarry... Oak Brook, downers Grove, Hinsdale all reporting it too."
• Catrina said, "Not understanding how they can deny that the blast wasn't out of the ordinary!?! The apparently "ordinary blast" was heard before the tremor that shook our home and literary made me jump just from the sound. Now I'm not used to earthquakes, but do they normally make an explosion noise first?"
• Claudia said, "The entire 300 block Leitch ave shook."
• Karen said, "Foundation shook, felt like a truck hit the house, LaGrange Country Club area!"
• Tom said, "Felt on Hillgrove"
• Christine said, "We felt it in La Grange, whole house shook for several seconds. 0-100 blk N Spring"
• Bill said, "Felt strong in LGP (wife) and Wheaton (me) for a sec."
• Becky said, "All the neighbors in 100 block S Catherine."
• Melissa Felt it in Brookfield."

And on Patch: 

Erin said, "Definitely felt the tremor in La Grange on Madison Street near the Post Office. It felt like a truck plowed into the east side of the house. The kids thought it was hilarious though--no damage done."

Linda said, "I live near Hansen Quarry on 47th and have kept track of every quarry blast I have felt since June 16. Any investigative reporter interested in seeing if the quarry was within state guidelines for each of the recorded blasts?"

Scott said, "I live in La Grange near the quarry and don't believe this was a blast. I feel them all the time. This was just like on he news. Things fell over, cabinets opened and things fell out, pictures jumped off walls and landed feet away. There were things laying on the floor in every room. Two ceiling fans lost their light fixtures. It was nothing like a quarry blast from the past.

Those are rumbles that make the house sort of vibrate a little. This shook the entire house back and forth for a few seconds. If it did come from the quarry, someone really jumped the shark and used about 100 too much explosive or maybe figured they'd skip the dynamite and go with something military grade ;-) Also it happened again a few minutes later but much milder with no damage - an aftershock?"

Tim said, "They destroyed Joliet Road in the 90's, the surrounding communities are next."

James said, "It's not the first time (In Wake of 'Earthquake', Quarry Promises New Practices)."

Lori said, "If this was the Quarry, how are they allowed to do this? Today's was violent and scary and enough force to throw things on the floor from counter and closets. This could really hurt someone one day if it was any stronger. I was understanding when it was thought to be an earthquake. Now that I know it wasn't, I am a bit upset as it was felt with strong force at our house in La Grange and it really was terrifying."

Dayna said, "I ran all around the house checking for damage...making sure the pets were accounted for, and that nothing broke. Texted my hubby that we felt an earthquake or something blew up! This was not just a little tremor - it was significant! I'm on 52nd Place in La Grange Highlands. Not to over-dramatize, but it scared me!"

Diana said, "Even if the blast triggered an earthquake it's still the quarry's fault. These blasts are much worse than when I was a young girl. It's irrelevant to me whether it's Hanson or Vulcan. When the quarry shuts down a part of Joliet Rd due to instability, what are the blasts doing to our properties? This was very scary & their blastings in general are worse. The rolling is much stronger now. I have a HUGE crack on my living room ceiling thanks to their blasts."

Linda said, "Would Hansen care to explain the events that occurred seconds after the blasts on August 8, September 19, 24, 30 and October 14?"

Rick said, "This was the first time I felt one in Western Springs - just 1 block from 294. The tremor was closer to 12:45-ish. The entire house actually shook and felt like it swayed. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a tremor or aftershock given the regular blasting going on there. These could easily cause continuing cracking in weak areas."

Julie said, "Felt it in our office building in Glen Ellyn, and also know it was felt in Elgin at the rehab facility my daughter works at. If it was felt that far away, the towns near the "blasting" would've been leveled?!"

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is investigating Monday's event, which the U.S. Geographic Survey (USGS) attributed to quarry blasting.