What were you doing at 5:15 AM today? Rocking and rolling? Or sleeping?

An Essex friend and neighbor contacted me earlier today to let me know that I’d snoozed right through an earthquake. Or at least a pair of tremors.

Friend: How about that little earthquake this morning around 5:15? Did u feel it?
Me: Are you kidding? Had no idea.
Friend: Yessir. Two low rumbles.
Me: Did you feel them?
Friend: I had gotten back in bed (after my bladder reminded me that it was morning) and the walls, floor and bed gently vibrated. Two mild intermittent rumbles lasting 1 or 2 seconds at the most.

I didn’t make that up, really. I literally cut and pasted that dialogue from my mobile into this post. And what’s more? The friend is as honest as he is lighthearted.

So I believe it. Two seismic alarm clocks rattled Essex residents at quarter after five this morning.

I turned to the Internet’s hoping to find out what happened. But nary a jot of information. Now, it’s not the first time that local news has been overlooked by the media, but an Essex earthquake? That’s huge!

I’ve been keeping an eye on the USGS earthquake ticker, but so far I’m not finding anything relevant. At least not obviously so.

So this is where you come in. Did you feel the Essex earthquake this morning? Perhaps a subtle rumbling in your sleep just prior to your normal alarm clock sounding?

If so, we’d love to hear about it. Share your story in the comments below. And if you’re more successful at digging up news relevant to an Essex earthquake (or another explanation), please add a link, etc. in the comments. Thanks!

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