Did Last Night's Earthquake Cause Damage in Bedford?

New Englanders from Maine to Massachusetts and perhaps as far away as Rhode Island felt the 4.6 magnitude earthquake centered in Lake Arrowhead, Maine early Tuesday night.

And while Bedford Police released a statement late last night saying there was no reported damage or injuries in town, several Bedford residents responded to a Bedford Patch Facebook callout asking if anyone felt the quake.

Responses included the following:

• Thought my boys where doing jumpin jacks....

• I spun around on my heels when I felt the house shake. My daughter saw the fear in my face. Even though I didn't hear anything I had to run to the basement to check that nothing exploded.

• We all did!!!

• Yes! Thought the washing machine was off balance, then realized it wasn't running!

• Yup

• That's weird, I was playing softball in Merrimack and felt nothing but my sister about 2 miles away said she thought the water heater exploded.

• yes! house shook and heard loud rumbling!

Earthquakes not rare in New England

Last night's tremor was the largest earthquake in New England since 1982 when a 4.7 quake – centered in Laconia – shook homes and rattled shelves.

Dr. John Ebel, a geophysics professor at Boston College and director of the Weston Observatory Boston College, said earthquakes start to cause damage when they reach a 5.0 magnitude.

As far last night's quake goes, he suspects that homes near the epicenter may have had some dishes rattle and cracking in old plaster walls.

New England is no stranger to earthquake activity.

The last earthquake to reach the 4.0 threshold was in 2006, a 4.0 quake in Bar Harbor, Maine.

And a grand-daddy of New England quakes dates to 1755.

That quake is estimated to have been a 6.25 shaker and was felt throughout New England.

In 1925, a 6.2 quake struck in Canada and was felt in New England, as well.

So, what is the potential for a big one, a California-esque quake in staid New England?

Dr. Ebel said such a quake could happen here.

Any place in the world that experiences regular earthquake activity is at risk for a major quake at some point.

When he says some point, he is speaking geologically, which means it could hit tomorrow or a month from now or in 10 year or in a hundred or more years.

But the potential exists.

And as far as aftershocks from tonight’s quake, he said there is potential for aftershocks close to the center over the next day or two.

He does not expect that people in Massachusetts or New Hampshire would feel the aftershocks.