Edmond Woman Says She Can Predict Earthquake Activity

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

EDMOND, Oklahoma -- An Edmond woman says she had advanced warning on Wednesday's earthquake that rattled central Oklahoma.

Jennifer Bingham said she noticed a sulfur stench in the creeks and rivers around Edmond in the last few weeks. She says the smell seemed to culminate about two days ago when the whole city smelled like a sewer.

"You can smell sulfur in the air and it was really strong from the creeks around my neighborhood, I've never smelled it that strong before," Bingham said.

Bingham is no stranger to earthquakes. She moved to Oklahoma from California where she had experienced a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that shook the San Francisco Bay area on October 17, 1989 also known as the Quake of '89.

"I have never forgotten the redwoods snapping in half, the eight foot cracks, crumpled earth and the fires from all the propane tanks exploding," Bingham said. "'89 earthquake was so traumatic I don't have any memory before I was age 7. I was outside when the earthquake hit."

Bingham said the sulfur scented water is the first sign of a large earthquake, and it occurs several weeks before the event.

For now she hopes she doesn't have to see another quake or feel another one again.

"I came here to get away from that. I don't even like to visit my parents in California because I'm always afraid the next big one, which they're long overdue for, will come over there," said Bingham.

A seismologist said it is possible to predict an earthquake is coming based on the sulfur smell. There is research around the world that's looking at that study extensively. There are other signs like ringing in the ears, feelings of nausea or pets standing still when they're anticipating an earthquake.