Updated: Minor Earthquake in Tri-State Area; Larger Quake Hits Virginia

Updated 3:56 p.m.

A minor earthquake in the Tri-State Area rattled Essex County on Tuesday afternoon shortly before 2 p.m. The quake measured 2.2 on the Richter Scale, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The USGS classified the quake in the New York metro area as a category IV which has "light shaking" and "no damage".

The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed that an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale was felt in Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area at 1:53 p.m. Tuesday. That quake was a category VII.

The epicenter of the Virginia quake was located nine miles south of Mineral, VA.

Locally, residents reported shaking buildings and cars and a "water-like" sensation. There were some building evacuations in larger cities. Newark City Hall was evacuated shortly after the quake, and several buildings in downtown .

In Verona, Mary Jo wrote in to tell us what she experienced.

"I was sitting at the computer and felt the whole house shake, it was kind of a tremble, oddly, like water. When I went to check to see if my daughter Maura felt anything, I saw the earrings on her stand rocking. She didn't feel anything and neither did my son Jim who was outside at the time.  As a matter of fact, he didn't even believe me when I told him that we had one."

Rod Hernandez, former owner and chef of Luke's Kitchen in Maplewood posted on Twitter after the quake, "Within seconds the entire room was undulating ad only an earthquake will do. It made the mirrors ripple like water."

Paul Campolieto, a Lab Manager in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, just 30 miles from the quake's epicenter, was on the fifth floor of a campus lab building when the quake hit. He told Patch the quake was "scary, but really wasn't all that bad."

"We're surrounded by graduated cylinders and glassware and nothing fell. When it happend we all sort of stopped and looked at eachother and said 'oh, we're having an earthquake'."

Back in the Garden State, it was reported that Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in Jackson closed following the quake.

PSE&G has issued a statement saying it has experienced "no operational or safety issues as a result of the earthquake," however, as a precaution, the utility has dispatched employees to assess any potential damage to its facilities.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Association, New Jersey ranks low on the list of states at risk for experiencing an earthquake.

Earthquake hazards are measured as the likelihood of experiencing earthquake shaking of various intensities, according to FEMA. Northern New Jersey is put in a category that's low on the list and described as "having a hazard shaking of moderate intensity," which could be felt by all and could lead to slight damage.

Quakes of this magnitude are uncommon, but not unheard of in New Jersey. For a history of quakes in the Garden State, click here.

The USGS is asking those who felt the earthquake to fill out an online survey to assist their information gathering.

Gov. Chris Christie issued a statement just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, where he said so far, New Jersey seems to have escaped unscathed.

"At this time, no injuries or fatalities have been reported and there are no reports of damage to the state’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, dams, reservoirs, power grids, transit systems and nuclear power plants."

Check back for more details as they become available.

Did you feel the quake? Tell us in the comments or email chris.nesi@patch.com.