Virginia Earthquake Shakes New Jersey

The Associated Press is reporting a 5.8-magnitude earthquake centered in Virginia was also felt in the New York City Area moments ago.

The Star-Ledger is reporting that Newark City Hall was evacuated shortly after the quake, which happened just before 2 p.m. Newark Mayor Cory Booker said no injuries have been reported at this time and that the city is assessing any damage that may have occurred.

Locally, residents are reporting shaking buildings and cars. The Newark Museum tweeted, "Absolutely crazy- felt like an earthquake in Newark!" User ThaGataNegrra also felt rumbles in Brick City: "We just did in Newark--Central/South border."

The United States Geological Survey is saying the earthquake registered 5.9-magnitude.

Rod Hernandez, former owner and chef at Luke's Kitchen in Maplewood tweeted, "Within seconds the entire room was undulating as only an earthquake will do. It made the mirrors ripple like water."

Lynne Ranieri of the Millburn Short Hills Historical Society was at the museum at the train station when she felt it.

"I first heard the roof and rafters creak and groan and thought a freak wind gust hit us. It continued and I began to feel a little swaying/dizziness, with louder creaking," she said. "Because of where we are, along the tracks, my next thought was that it was from some massive train accident not far from here, or that our underground pipes were about to rupture. When the swaying became more intense, I ran outside and knew then that it was an earthquake. 

"What a stomach-turning experience when that dependable, solid earth beneath your feet turns to swaying jello," she said.

Megan McLeod, 18, said she was sitting at her kitchen in her Westover Avenue home in Caldwell when she felt her chair and then the table tremble. When she looked up, she noticed the mirror on the dining room wall shaking.

“My first thought was it was an earthquake, but then I thought I was being ridiculous,” McLeod said.

McLeod’s dog Jake was outside begging to come in and was upset for a few minutes before settling down, she said. But about 15 minutes later the dog once again became upset.

“People always say dogs can sense when things are happening or about to happen,” she said.

Meanwhile, at Jersey Mac’s on Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell, a restaurant owned by her father, two women having lunch stopped their conversation when they felt the tremors.

Meryl Ravitz of New York City told her friend Joan Hillman of Caldwell that she felt something, and Hillman confirmed that she felt it, too.

“I used to live in California so I know it was an earthquake, because I know earthquakes, I've felt them before,” said Hillman, a former resident of San Francisco.

Hillman’s husband called her on her cell phone from New York City to let her know that he was okay but that he was being evacuated from his offices at 30 Rockefeller Center.

The USGS is asking those who felt the earthquake to fill out an online survey to assist their information gathering. 

Check back for more details as they become available.