An Earthquake? Really? In Western Pennsylvania?

An earthquake slightly shook the residents of Pine and Richland townships about 2 p.m. Tuesday.

"The U.S. Geological Survey reports a preliminary magnitude 5.8 earthquake was felt across much of the Mid-Atlantic region Tuesday afternoon at 1:51 p.m. EDT," according to the National Weather Service website.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported it occurred about 0.6 feet below the surface of the earth.

The temblor was centered in Mineral, VA, northwest of Richmond and about 87 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., the weather service reported. Its effect was felt along the Eastern Seaboard.

In Pine and Richland townships, Northern Regional Police Department received calls from people who felt the quake.

Facebook and Twitter quickly recorded “did you feel that?” comments.

Duquesne Light reported all of its system “are secure and no problems [were] experienced from the tremor."

The earthquake caused some cellphone service disruptions around the area as well as in other states.

Although early reports indicate that earthquake damage in Western Pennsylvania has been minimal, the state Public Utility Commission reminds residents who may smell or hear natural gas leaking to leave the affected building immediately and call 911.

The PUC is working with natural gas utilities throughout the state to monitor their systems while crews use special equipment to check for pressure changes and earthquake-related leaks, spokewoman Jennifer Kocher said.

A chemical added to natural gas causes it to smell like rotten eggs. People who smell natural gas or hear hissing or blowing sounds should leave the building without turning lights on or off or using a telephone until they are out of the building.

Pittsburgh International Airport is reporting operations are normal.

When PennDOT District 11 Press Officer James B. Struzzi II was asked if any roads or bridges suffered structural damage related to today's earthquake, he said:

"Not that we're aware of. Nothing at this time."

Throughout Western Pennsylvania, the earthquake prompted countless inquiries to police, fire departments, government offices and Allegheny County's 911 center from people who were initially puzzled by the impact. 

An hour later, police and emergency crews around the region continued to respond to requests to check buildings that were shaken.

In Ross, West View and other northern suburbs, the quake rattled buildings, glasses in cabinets and caused confusion, but otherwise its effects were minimal.

"I missed it," said Ross Township Manager Wayne Jones, as did other employees in the

No reports or calls of damage or other worries were reported to Ross Township emergency services, fire and police officials said.

The  building shook a little, but books remained on the shelves, employees said.

Farther north, manager Jerry Andree thought he was imagining things at first when he saw the water glass in front of him vibrate. 

He and Jeff Schueler, Cranberry’s public safety director, said police also have not received any calls from Butler County 911 or reports of damage from the quake.

To the west in Sewickley, some folks didn't even feel it.  Others took to Twitter to share their experiences, as did petertheis, who tweeted: "Earthquake in Sewickley... wow never saw that coming."

In Moon, Fire Marshal Charlie Belgie said the  on Cherrington Parkway evacauated the top floors of its building as a safety precaution, but no damage or injuries were reported.

At the in Moon, meteorologist Brad Rehak said the quake wasn't felt at the service's Shafer Road office. 

"Actually, no, not really," Rehak said. "Maybe one guy here said he felt it."

Although Pennsylvania is not immune to earthquakes, it is relatively safe from earthquake risk, according to the USGS.  Pennsylvania may have experienced aftershocks from earthquakes in 1663 and 1727, but historical records are not definitive, the USGS said. 

In 1934, an earthquake caused buildings to shake and dishes to crash from shelves in and around Erie, and another caused minor damage four years later in southern Blair County, according to the USGS.

Most of the earthquakes or aftershocks felt since then in the state have been in Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley and other areas of eastern Pennsylvania and did not cause catastrophic damage.

The last earthquake recorded in Pennsylvania before today/Tuesday's earthquake was a relatively puny 0.4 magnitude event on July 6 near Philadelphia.

In Eastern Pennsylvania, today's earthquake prompted authorities to declare emergencies at three Exelon nuclear power plants in Peach Bottom, Three Mile Island and Limerick and at a fourth plant in New Jersey.  No one was injured and no plant operations were affected, according to.

The earthquake did not affect operations at the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station in Shippingport, Beaver County.

The earthquake followed by hours the strongest earthquake to hit Colorado in more than 40 years, according to The Huffington Post.  Aftershocks continued there and in northern New Mexico through the day today, The Huffington Post reported.

Personal Stories from Pine-Richland Patch Editor

Pine-Richland Patch received a report from a Richland resident who works downtown that his building shook and a colleague's desk drawer came open. 

This editor's older son, Jason Micco, said he was sitting in a minivan in the parking lot of when he felt the earthquake. He said it felt like someone was stepping on the back bumper and rocking the minivan.

Inside the store, he said he did not see any damage and employees at the located in the store said they did not feel the earthquake.

This editor’s younger son, Daniel Micco, was home reading in the first-floor family room when he heard loud noises on the second floor above him. Then he felt the shaking.

My mother in Southern Maryland, Mary H. Cusic, said she was at a cousin's house when the earthquake hit.

"Everything started shaking. The chandeliers were swinging round and round," she said. "We just sat here til it was over."

"People just didn't know what was happening," she said. "It really shook things up."

The Southern Maryland area, which is about 50 miles south of Washington, D.C., rarely gets earthquakes.

My mother said another person reported going outside his house and seeing his chimney moving during the quake. Yet another cousin, who works in Washington, said she was on the 5th floor of her office building and it was "rocking like crazy."

Pine-Richland Patch is looking for more feedback. Did you feel anything? Do you have family members who experienced the earthquake in other states? Tell us in the comments box.