No Damages From NJ Earthquake In Upper Southampton: Officials

UPPER SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, PA —An apparent earthquake rocked the East Coast Friday morning, authorities said.

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake was detected with an epicenter seven kilometers northeast of Whitehouse Station in New Jersey, according to the United States Geological Survey, which monitors earthquakes.

In a notice to parents, the Centennial School District said that vibrations were experienced and that school administrators and facility staff walked the schools to check for any damage.

"There is no observable damage in any of our buildings from the earthquake at this time. We will continue school operations in our normal fashion," said Nathan Ross, spokesman for the Centennial School District.

When the earthquake began, Ross said that "everyone just kind of stopped what they were doing and said. 'You felt that right?' Then everyone was receiving texts from all over. It was wild. We are back to business here."

Facebook pages for Upper Southampton Township lit up with people asking whether there was an earthquake and that there was a whole lot of shaking going on.

Reports of buildings shaking began about 10:30 a.m. and lasted for approximately 30 seconds. The shaking was felt as far as New York City, Philadelphia, and Massachusetts, according to reports.