Experiencing the Odd Occurrence of an East Coast Earthquake

FIRST PERSON | SUFFOLK, Va. -- As I was sitting at my computer desk and typing away at the keyboard, I felt my house begin to shake. It actually felt more like a rocking motion and moving back and forth rather than a violent shake. With the swaying, I heard some loud noise but thought perhaps the lawn outside the community was being mowed or that construction was being done.

I have lived in Virginia for 14 years now, but I grew up in Southern California and was lead to believe that Virginia didn't experience earthquakes, only hurricanes. Still there was a nagging feeling that I had felt an earthquake since I had experienced them numerous times as a child.

Being unsure I walked around the house not knowing if perhaps there was an earthquake or even a tornado. I prepared to get in the bathtub or under furniture as well as call my children in from outside. I called my middle daughter on the phone to inquire if she had felt anything. She reported not feeling anything and since she didn't experience anything out of the ordinary I blew off the concern and went on with my day. I was left feeling as though maybe I was dizzy or loosing my mind to some degree.

Soon after I got in my car to take my youngest daughter's shot records, physical, and birth certificate to her soon to be new school. As I was listening to the radio the song came to an end and I heard the announcement of the 5.9-magnitude earthquake. I had feelings of relief that I wasn't going crazy mixed with concern as to why Virginia had experienced an earthquake.

Feeling the earthquake sparked memories of previous earthquakes. While living in El Centro, Calif., I remember the shaking to be so forceful that pool water was splashed out of our pool. During another earthquake I was seven or eight stories high in a San Diego college dorm room with my high-school flag team. The quake felt like the building was swaying and that is what today's earthquake felt like to me, even though I was on the bottom floor of my two story home.

I am thankful to be able to report no damage to my house, my family, or surrounding areas.