Locals React to Quake: 'Never Want to Feel That Again'

Many West Islip residents felt the shock of their first earthquake early Tuesday afternoon.

And judging by all the responses, it's safe to say that earthquakes are social media's best friends.

"Working on Sunrise Highway in West Babylon and felt it," Peggy Morris said on Facebook.  "Never want to feel that again."

Local Mary Albanese said she thought she was getting sick.

"Got dizzy and nauseous...stood up and decided it was better if I sat down!" she said.  "I was on the phone with my daughter and I told her I wasn't feeling well, and then she said she felt it also, and the dog was barking!"

According to reports, it was a 5.8 magnitude earthquake and occurred in Virginia at 1:51 p.m.  Tremors were felt as far north as New York.

Jean Donovan said she "felt it sitting at Robert Moses Beach."

Maria Koprowski thought she was having auto trouble.

"Was on Higbie Lane at the light," Koprowski said.  "My car was swaying back and forth."

But others, like Diane Garretson, said they didn't notice anything.  "Didn't feel it in West Islip but my daughter in Bohemia felt it," she said. 

Susan Falkenmayer was upset she missed it.

"Didn't feel a thing," she said. "Wanted to see what it felt like!"

County Executive Steve Levy was on the 12th floor of the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge when the quake hit.

"We had just finished an emergency practice drill less than an hour beforehand," said Levy, noting that the building swayed. "One of the things that went through my mind was that someone bombed the building, and maybe this drill wasn't such a drill.

"But thankfully no one was injured, and this is what you train for," Levy added.

Levy said there have been no reports of injuries in the county due to the quake. 

Police are asking those who wish to report non-emergency incidents resulting from the earthquake, such as downed trees or wires to call the Suffolk County Police Department’s non-emergency line at 631-852-COPS or 911 in the event of an emergency.

 You can see exactly where the earthquake struck in Virginia here.