Twitter, Social Media Explodes As Earthquake Shakes New York City Area And Northeast

August 23, 2011 7:29 PM

A woman logs on to Twitter - File / Photo: SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images

Twitter (file/credit: SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)

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Earthquake

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A 5.8 magnitude earthquake that was felt along the Northeast coast Tuesday shook the ground, swayed buildings and left many residents wondering what was happening.

Tuesday afternoon, those that were at work, at home and online across the Tri-State area during the event took to social media to make their thoughts known.

Before most even knew for sure that it was an earthquake which struck New York City and a large portion of the East Coast, Twitter was flooded with the #Earthquake hashtag as users, including celebrities and reporters, took to the social media outlet. The Internet giant later tweeted that 40,000 earthquake-related tweets were inputted within one minute of the quake.

“And, we hit about 5,500 Tweets per second (TPS). For context, this TPS is more than Osama Bin Laden’s death & on par w/ the Japanese quake,” @twitter said.

“Seriously, my first instinct during the #earthquake: Tweet this. 2^nd: Duck and cover,” wrote Washington Post editor Doris N. Truong.

Other found clever ways to poke fun at politicians.

“It was a reaction to George Pataki’s president speculation,” tweeted Slate.com political reporter Dave Weigel.

“I think Chris Christie just jumped into the race,” wrote Salon.com writer Alex Pareene.

NYC Aviation used a hashtag to add some subtle humor to their announcement of delays.

“GROUND STOPS at #DCA, #EWR, #IAD, #JFK and #PHIL due to the #earthquake. #grabasnickers.”

Meanwhile, one New York City bar and restaurant attempted to use the earthquake – and the power of social media – for business purposes.

“Attention NYC: #Earthquake party at Southern Hospitality!!” tweeted the Upper East Side establishment.

The quake was felt as far west as Ohio.

One former CBS employee even reported feeling it on the 21st floor of a building in Manhattan.

There are no reports of injury at this time.

Did you feel it? Let us know in the comments section below!

Twitter, Social Media Explodes As Earthquake Shakes New York City Area And Northeast

Joe

Felt it in Stamford CT
Tiffani Rosado

I was playing on the computer and suddenly I felt something shaking. I thought it was my dog shaking the chair that I was sitting but my dad told me it was an earthquake. It really makes me want to throw up…
kamla

iwas sitting on a webinar the conferece table and overhead lights started swaying my thoughts went immediately to JAPAN AND HAITI thank GOD it was what it was
Isabell

Bohemia, NY here. We felt it too. Our second-story office was swinging. Crazy!
Mike

I felt it in Richmond Hill, NY. The whole building rocked for 20 to 30 seconds
Joe

Felt it just a bit in Commack. The gods are angry. Be prepared.
Darien, CT

We all felt the earthquake. Signs that hang from strings, from the ceiling in our office, were bobbing around the whole time.
Evelyn Joy Shevlin

I flet it too. I was sitting and my boss says stop that but i wasnt doing anything. Everything was moving in the office of his house in Forest Hills Queens , NY
BareBurger Park Slope

I was in the basement of my restaurant in Brooklyn and I thought I was getting a dizzy spelll. Once the desk and my chair began to move, I knew it was an earthquake. What a strange feeling
Tony

I was waiting at a light in Staten Island and felt the car moving. At first I thought it was the wind but it just wasn’t that breezy. Then I thought there was something wrong the vehicles engine. What a relief to know that it was just an earthquake!!

Heard that it’s epicenter was 87 miles outside of Washington, DC. Do you think the man upstairs is sending a message to the politicians?
Consuelo Colon

I am in Union City, NJ and all of a sudden I felt the building moving. I wasn’t sure if I was correct. Then I stood up and went to my grandson who was in his room & he felt it too.
Alexander Krivenyshev

Felt strong shake in my apartment on 25th floor in Galaxy towers in New Jersey.

Tweet the Cosmonauts.

Did you Tweet the Cosmonauts? Tell them to terraform Mars for you so you have a place to escape to when Earth goes to hell…. atmospheres.5u.com…Remember, the Andromeda approaches.

Patricia Lanesman

I was lying on my couch when it started to move across the room. I am in Briarwood Queens

Tweet the !Cosmonauts!

Did you Tweet the Cosmonauts?! Ask them to terraform Mars for you so you have a place to escape to when Earth goes to hell…. atmospheres.5u…Remember, the Andromeda approaches.

Frank

also felt in Montreal Canada
Madge

I’m in the northeast section of the Bronx, 27th floor, and I was wondering why I felt so dizzy as the building was swaying, which I then realized it must have been an earthquake. It lasted about 15 seconds or so. Quite frightening!
jason

11042 Lake Success; Inside a 3 story medical building with a 3 story garage i felt the shakes
CG

Felt it in Times Square. Our office is on the 36th floor and it felt like we were rocking on a boat.
avi

yes my desk shook it felt crazy
Natalie B

I’m on the 5th Floor of a Upper West Side apartment and I felt it for about 10-15 seconds. I’m from San Francisco and so I knew what it was immediately. Never thought they got them here.
Vic

The whole building at MTA College Point Depot swayed. Scarry. We had to evacuate, due to CNG tanks.
Bob

I live in Toms River, NJ – my house shook west to east not once but twice – one after the other with a very slight pause in-between. I tried calling the local 911 but after 2 minutes of ringing I finally hung up. Scary stuff!!
teetotaler

Same in Garden City, Long Island.
Rhino

Construction Trailer was moving @ EWR – Eppa – keep it rocking
Kendall

I felt the earthquake and I am on the 7th floor at Rockefeller Plaza.
Leesh

I’m in Central New York. I was sitting at my desk at work, at first I thought I was dizzy. I felt the chair shake. It was over in about 20 seconds.