Where Were You When the Floors Began to Shake? Tales from the Earthquake

When the effects of rippled up the East Coast, Administrator George Jackson was sitting in his car at the department of public works.

Jackson said he was on the phone with when the car began to shake. Initially, he said he thought the engine was about to stall or that  someone was “clowning around” and rocking the back of his car.

Then Connelly told him that his house was shaking and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling was swinging and they quickly learned on the news of the earthquake. Jackson said he thought the whole event lasted no longer than 15 seconds.

Eatontown Borough employees evacuated borough hall of their own accord for about 15 to 20 minutes, said Jackson, until the borough’s construction official gave the green light to return to work.

According to Tinton Falls resident , who was driving in his car when the effects of the 5.9 earthquake rocked the area, his 10-year-old son saw the chair and fireplace shake in one room while his wife felt nothing from their living room.

“He came running in to tell her there was an earthquake,” said Tobin.

member Bill Holobowski said he just assumed the shaking was part of the construction work being done on his house.

Tony Ciavolella, over at in the southern part of Tinton Falls, said that the “minor” shaking had no impact on the retirement commuity’s residents or operations.

Many locals took to Facebook to share their 2011 earthquake experiences.

CJ Rubin posted, “Yes, I felt it. I was at the intersection of Industrial Way and Rt. 35 in Eatontown and my car started to shake!!! Turned on the radio and found out why. Never felt anything like it!!!”

Eatontown resident Jackie Ilvento posted that she felt the quake where she works in Red Bank and her husband felt it at home.

From Ginger Court in Eatontown, Haze Lugo posted, “Very scary!”

Brenda Walenczyk, who lives in Tinton Falls and works at the library, said on Facebook, “Sitting on the couch ... tv and couch shaking.”

A post from Garden State Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls read, “We had quite a shake here but all is okay. wasn't scared a bit."

The quake registered a magnatude 5.9, upgraded from an origial report of 5.8, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which tracks earthquakes. It was centered in Mineral, VA, southwest of Washington D.C., in the center of the state.

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, VA. It also registered a 5.9 magnatude, according to the geological survey.

The U.S.Geological Survey is asking those who felt the earthquake to fill out an online survey to assist their information gathering.