According to the US Geological Survey, the quake hit at 1:51 p.m. near Richmond, Va. Media up and down the mid-Atlantic reported feeling the earth shake for 5 to 10 seconds.
Raleigh Twitter users immediately responded to the shakes, asking each other if they felt anything and making jokes about the possible incoming Hurricane Irene this weekend.
“Earthquake today. Hurricane this weekend?’ tweeted DAyers.
“*sigh* Finally SOMETHING is shaking things up in Washington,” BrianneVillano tweeted.
Others took a more scientific approach:
“East Coast crust is more efficient at propagating seismic waves. Same earthquake on the East Coast will be felt more widely than one in CA,” explained kathrynnyu.