Taking it to the Streets

By ALAN REED
News Staff Reporter

MOUNT VERNON — Numerous reports from local residents stating they experienced what felt like an earthquake were received around the area early Tuesday afternoon.

Brian Hess, Knox County Emergency Management Agency director, reported that an earthquake was confirmed at 1:51 p.m., originating near Mineral, Va., measuring 5.9 in the Richter Scale.

“It was felt clear across Knox County,” said Hess shortly after 2 p.m. today. Stating that there have been no reports of damage, Hess was awaiting further word from Ohio EMA after receiving many calls from citizens and first responders who all felt the quake to some degree.

“Nobody believes me,” said Jenny Wert after feeling the tremor while at work at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. “It was a slight tremor. The water in the glass on my desk was shaking,” she said, adding that friends reported feeling the quake in Dayton and Cedarville.

“It was like a swaying back and forth,” said Elizabeth Reynolds of Cliff Street, Mount Vernon. “I thought my apartment was falling down,” she said, adding that her curtains were shaking and the pull chains on her lamps were rattling.

Shoshanna Lee of Warsaw had just risen from a nap when she noticed her house was swaying, and two chandeliers were rocking back and forth. “It lasted about 15 to 20 seconds,” said Lee. “Our house is really old, so I didn’t know if it was just our house or what. She said it scared her as picture frames on the walls were shaking and her dog was acting scared, too.

Hess is planning on providing an update on the earthquake early Wednesday morning.