BUFFALO, NY – A small earthquake rocked western New York early Monday, alarming residents of an area unaccustomed to such tremors but apparently causing no significant damage.
The US Geological Survey preliminary reported a magnitude 3.8 earthquake centered east of Buffalo in West Seneca around 6:15 a.m. recorded in November 1999.
The tremor lasted seconds and sent residents first to their windows and then to social media in search of an explanation.
“It felt like a car hit my house in Buffalo. I jumped out of bed,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted.
Just on the phone with @ErieCountyESU Dep. Commissioner Butcher who confirmed the earthquake was felt as far north as Niagara Falls and as far south as Orchard Park according to initial reports. It was like a car had hit my house in Buffalo. I jumped out of bed. https://t.co/6viSAUQ4us
—Marc Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) February 6, 2023
County emergency services officials confirmed the quake was felt at least 30 miles away, including in Niagara Falls, about 20 miles north of Buffalo, Polancarz said.
“The Buffalo area experienced an earthquake this morning. No damage has been reported at this time. My team is in contact with local authorities and we will provide all necessary support,” Governor Kathy Hochul tweeted.
The Buffalo area experienced an earthquake this morning. No damage has been reported at this time. My team is in contact with the local authorities and we will provide all the necessary support. https://t.co/hGqus9mfck
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) February 6, 2023
Earthquake Canada, which measured a magnitude 4.2 event, reported that it was felt lightly in southern Ontario.
Small earthquakes are not unusual in the upstate, but are rarely felt this strongly.
The quake follows two record-breaking weather events in the region: a blizzard that dropped up to 7 feet of snow in November and a blizzard in December that is responsible for 47 deaths.
The New York earthquake happened hours after a powerful earthquake killed hundreds in Turkey and Syria. A USGS spokesperson said there was no connection between the two events.
