A “strong” earthquake hit Jersey City this afternoon, at around 2PM today (Aug. 23, 2011). Reports say the tremor measured 5.8 – 5.9, which was also felt in New York, Virginia, and Washington D.C. Who knew it would happen in the East Coast, where earthquake is not common?
A very good friend of mine – Elmer, a local DJ – said via facebook that the earthquake shook his apartment building: “For a moment I thought it was just me being light headed…I was really surprised it was actually an earthquake. Doesn’t happen around here often. I live in Los Angeles for 5 years…I experience it there all the time. You be extra careful there for possible aftershocks…”
This could be a first time experience for me if I were in Jersey City when it occurred. I immediately made a long distance call to my mother and she said she didn’t feel anything, but mentioned that my father who works in South Jersey, and his officemates, were instructed to evacuate their building.
NJ.com reports that the epicenter of the quake was in central Virginia. Snippet of the news below:
“…The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting that a magnitude 5.9 earthquake was centered in central Virginia, and the Associated Press is reporting the quake was felt in Washington, New York City and North Carolina…”
Did you feel the earthquake in Jersey City? Where were you when it happened?
wow. yes, this is quite rare for this part of the United States. I hope everybody came out of this okay…