Did You Feel It In Suffield?

The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting that an earthquake measuring 5.8 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 1:53 p.m. north of Richmond, VA.

Suffield was relatively untouched by the earthquake, although some tremors were felt. State Rep. and Town Clerk Elaine O'Brien said she noticed some shaking while working at her desk, but the vibrations weren't intense enough to be immediately recognized as an earthquake.

"At first I thought there was something wrong with my chair," O'Brien said, noting that she couldn't feel any movement of the building after standing up.

The Suffield Fire and Police Departments also reported feeling their respective buildings shake, but had not received any calls for emergency aid.

The tremors were still relatively minor but much more noticable in West Suffield. At RJ's Ice Cream and Bake Shop near Ebb's Corner and the Congamond lakes, Jenna Chapman said the restaurant shook for at least 30 seconds, along with everything inside.

"We felt it, all right," she said.

Suffield Patch readers in Hartford and West Springfield, MA, said they felt the effects as well.

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."

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," Malloy said. "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."

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

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