Quote Roundup: Residents React to the East Coast Earthquake

A significant span of the east coast received an unwelcome surprise early this afternoon as an earthquake rattled the ground, displaced photos and shook office buildings. Facebook and Twitter users from New York to South Carolina reported feeling the quake, which struck at 1:51 P.M. Eastern time and was centered 27 miles east of Charlottesville, Virginia. Minutes after it struck, the event was classified as a 5.8 magnitude quake by the United States Geological Survey, before quickly earning an upgrade to a 5.9.

Despite the potentially disastrous consequences of earthquakes, a Facebook community page entitled "I survived the tristate/east coast earthquake of 2011" had attracted more than 1,500 fans just 45 minutes following the event, suggesting that damages are likely minimal in nature, and that many residents are more amused than frightened by the event.

Here's a look at what a handful of surprised residents up and down the east coast had to say about their mid-day jolt.

"Nothing fell here... I could see our out buildings shift, ripples in the pool and felt like the ground was going to fall from underneath me. I was outside walking the dog. [My son] Shaney was in the house and said it just shook and that was all. Much scarier than the one we had in 2010." -- Gretchen Cavell, Clarksburg, MD

"[My son] 's gymnastics medals started shaking on their own.... he ran down the stairs and said "I think we just had an earthquake." YUP!!" -- Lisa Michalek, Rochester, NY

"Ironically while the "big quake" hit, my ipod was playing "Shake Me" by Cinderella!" -- Denise Olson, Corning, NY

"I just thought the dryer was broken. By the time I checked, the earthquake was over." -- Beth Hersom, Leesburg, VA

"[My] grandma Kathy thought it was a plane, or mousse rocking the plant back and forth like crazy, until I came out. She never thought about it being an earthquake!" -- Renae DeLauder, Jefferson, MD

"It felt like someone was shaking my chair for 10 to 15 seconds." -- Lara Girdler, Wilmington, NC

"The house shook, the cat ran across the lawn in horror and the earth rumbled for what seemed like a very long time." -- Sarah Menke-Fish, Potomac, MD

"It felt like the floor under my chair was "swimming" sort of. Hard to explain." -- Summer Banks, Oak Island, NC

"My whole house shook, nothing broke, but [I] definitely saw the walls and chandelier move. [I] felt like my head was swimming, thought I was dizzy...." -- Melissa Epperly, Dover, DE

"That was not cool! [Almost a] 6.0 and the whole house was shaking... if it lasted any longer for sure things would have been falling and breaking. Now to see if we end up getting aftershocks!! What an insane weather week we are going to have... earthquake now and then the weekend....hurricane!" -- Kathy Devaney, Glen Burnie, MD

"Wild... office building started shaking. Thought someone was testing ac units on roof. It was a loud noise. Shook for a few seconds. Wild." -- Donna Shriver, Frederick, MD

"There was minor ground-shaking felt and I saw a plant's leaves wiggle. Big deal. People in CA or Haiti would be laughing at everyone on the east coast for our overreaction." -- Sharon Gallaher, Baltimore, MD