Earthquake Shakes Up East Coast, Felt Throughout Westchester

An Earthquake which according to the U.S. Geological Survey originated near Richmond, VA a little before 2 p.m. was felt all along the East Coast, including in Eastchester and Bronxville.

Alison Pinsley of Bronxville was at work on the seventh floor of 145 Huguenot Street in New Rochelle when her chair began to sway.

"I thought something was wrong with me," she said, "Until everyone in the department started talking about it, and we started checking online for any information."

Employees in the  also reported feeling tremors and their chairs shaking, and a number of calls were placed to Bronxville Police Department following the quake, although no damages have been reported at this time. 

in Bronxville also felt strong tremors, as employees working in as high as the fifth floor of the building reported televisions shaking and patients panicking.

"It was actually the components inside the building [shaking], and we could see things shaking outside the building, like the planters," said one Lawrence Hospital official. "The televisions were moving, the chairs were moving. We felt it on the fifth floor."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has released a statement saying that the "state is initiating comprehensive reviews of critical and sensitive infrastructure including the state’s hydroelectric plants, nuclear power plants, key bridges and tunnels, and other assets."

Cuomo said he is "getting regular reports from agencies all over the state and at this time there are no reports of damage or power outages."

Jerry Nappi, spokesperson for the Indian Point Energy Center, confirmed Cuomo's statement, saying "there are no reports of any damage on site...both reactors are operating normally at full power."

Early reports are that the earthquake was of a 5.8 magnitude. Swaying buildings and shakes could be felt up and down the East Coast including North Carolina and Connecticut. CBS radio is reporting that a number of cell phone services, including AT&T, are experiencing difficulties as a result of the quake. A number of buildings in New York City as well as the Pentagon and Capitol in Washington, DC were evacuated. Metro North reports commuter trains and subways are unaffected.

Read how  at the center of the quake is covering it and email ed.boulat@patch.com to share your story and/or photos, or tell us on Twitter, Facebook or in the comments below. 

Did you feel the quake?