Community Corner

UPDATE: Wall Residents Report Feeling Earthquake In Virginia

Gov. Chris Christie says infrastructure suffered no damage

Township resident Constance Paras was at her mother's house doing laudry shortly before 2 p.m Tuesday.

Her dog, a 9-year-old rescue animal, walked into the laundry room and stared at her.

Paras asked the dog what was wrong. It inched forward to her feet, sat, and stared up at her.

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Then she felt the house move.

"I actually thought the laundry was off balance so I shut off the machine,'' Paras said. "When I saw the door moving and still felt the house moving, I just rode it out.''

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The earthquake, a magnitude 5.9 centered in central Virginia, was upgraded from an original report of 5.8, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which tracks earthquakes worldwide.

The earthquake felt throughout the region today matches the largest earthquake ever recorded in Virginia. The last was in 1897 and located in Giles County, Virginia. It also registered a 5.9 magnitude, according to the geological survey.

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management issued a release shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday assuring people that the organization was monitoring the situation.

"At this time, there are very few reports of damage to any infrastructure in the state," the release says. "Roadways, Bridges and tunnels all seem to be intact."

Mobile phone service was unavailable for many users statewide, the release says, but the OEM said that was likely due to extremely high call volume, not a malfunction.

The office says that aftershocks could not be ruled out, but were unlikely, given the distance from the epicenter of the quake.

Gov. Chris Christie also issued a statement echoing the emergency managment office, saying the state's infrastructure was undamaged and that he was in constant contact with state and federal authorities to monitor the situation.

"We will remain in touch with other cabinet officials and with the appropriate federal agencies for updates on the situation," Christie said.

Paras said the tremors lasted less than a minute, but left a memory to last a lifetime.

"I used to do a lot of travel out to California, so I knew what I was feeling,'' Paras said. "I just never expected it to happen here in Jersey."


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