Did You Feel It?

The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting that an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck the Virginia area shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, with the aftershock being felt as far away as Connecticut and western Massachusetts. 

The earthquake struck at approximately 1:51 p.m. north of Richmond, VA.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy opened the state's Emergency Operations Center shortly after the quake and sent out the following statement: 

“The movement people in Connecticut felt was associated with the earthquake which originated in Virginia. Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection staff is at the Emergency Operations Center as a precaution, but at this point, there have been no reports of injury or damage.”

John Wallace, Bradley International Airport spokesman, said he felt some tremors at his desk and saw the blinds in office window shake for a few seconds. However, the tremors had no effect on Bradley operations, he said.

The airport is however having some flights from the Washington, D.C. area diverted there, he said. That is similar to weather event, when Bradley is “a port in a storm.”

Reports are coming in throughout the state and as far away as Springfield, MA., of building evacuations. 

Somers First Selectwoman Lisa Pellegrini said that a few people have called the town hall asking about the earthquake. She said that there have been no injuries reported and no town buildings have been evacuated.

Pellegrini said that she did not feel the earthquake but others around town did.

"My husband called and told me the house was rattling and dishes were shaking," she said. "I told him he was nuts. Then my mom called from Philly to say they just had one and asked if we also felt it up here. We did not feel it at town hall, but they felt it at public works."

Andre Garant commented on the Ellington-Somers Facebook page saying that he works in Vernon and felt a slight movement of his desk.

"At first I thought it was someone moving something downstairs, but then I had a thought that it was an earthquake," he said. "Very strange!!!"

Linda Welcome also commented on Facebook, saying, "Wish I could say I even felt it...but I didn't...maybe it's because we live on a knoll and have a big rise behind us?"

Ellington-Somers Patch contributor Jessica Ciparelli felt the earthquake while working at her full time job in Hartford.

"I started hearing co-workers say 'Did you feel that?' and 'Is the building moving?,'" she said. "Then I started feeling what they were talking about - the building was swaying. The next thing someone said was 'I think we should get out of here!' As we descended down the four flights of stairs, we met other building occupants with the same idea. We got away from the building and waited about 20 minutes or so before entering again. While we were outside, we found out there had been an earthquake in Virginia."

Another contributor, Debbie Stauffer, was more concerned about what was happening in Washington, D.C. than what was happening in Ellington.

"Low grade panic for about a half hour," she said. "My daughter is at college in Washington, D.C. Cell Service was not working for about a half hour to 45 minutes. She is fine."

Donna Chiapponi was at work in Manchester when she felt the quake. She said she was at her desk when she felt her chair and the floor moving and looked at her computer and it was shaking.

"I'm thinking this feels like an earthquake and (my coworker) Carolyn and I said to each other about the same time, 'Did you feel that?' and we both were glad the other did, so we knew we weren't crazy cause some others we work with did not feel it and then a few minutes later saw it on the news. My first and hope my last earthquake."

Ellington Fire Chief Michael Varney said that he is not aware of any injuries or damage caused by the earthquake.

Stick with Patch for local updates on the situation throughout the day.

Windsor Locks-East Windsor Editor Larry Smith contributed to this report.