Just experienced my second earthquake. Yeah, I know that’s nothing for you Californians but it’s not exactly an everyday occurrence on the other side of the country.
My first one was very cool in that I am one of the few people in the world to have advanced notice of an imminent earthquake. I was on a conf call at irk in NJ with people from all over the country when someone in Baltimore blurts our, “Oh my God”. Then “We’re having an earthquake.”
There were many, “are you all rights?” as well as “Yeah, rights”
About 10 seconds after she blurted out, the waves hit us. My response was, “She’s telling the truth because we’re getting it now.” 
You felt that? Wow.
rc, smug Californian.
Yep, it shook the windows of the room I’m sitting in, and rattled the house gently.
My little state has had its own earthquake! I’m so proud! Sniff
USGS website https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/#%7B%22autoUpdate%22%3A%5B%22autoUpdate%22%5D%2C%22basemap%22%3A%22terrain%22%2C%22feed%22%3A%227day_m25%22%2C%22listFormat%22%3A%22default%22%2C%22mapposition%22%3A%5B%5B-66.93006025862445%2C-54.84375%5D%2C%5B74.68325030051861%2C425.390625%5D%5D%2C%22overlays%22%3A%5B%22plates%22%2C%22faults%22%5D%2C%22restrictListToMap%22%3Anull%2C%22search%22%3Anull%2C%22sort%22%3A%22newest%22%2C%22timezone%22%3A%22local%22%2C%22viewModes%22%3A%5B%22map%22%5D%2C%22timeZone%22%3A%22local%22%2C%22event%22%3A%22us1000bjkn%22%7D originally reported magnitude 5.1. Now it says 4.1. Humph.
Huh, so that’s what it was! 
Brooklyn here, and thought it was my (amply-sized) nephew stomping around upstairs when I felt a shudder through the room. It wasn’t that things were moving, it literally felt like my room just shuddered.
The last one we felt was about 7 years ago - 2011, perhaps? People actually emptied out of apartment buildings then. I was driving at the time, and couldn’t understand why so many people were milling in the streets.
OK, so we’re wusses on the east coast!
In San Jose a coworker and I were alone in a lab when the Coalinga earthquake struck. By the time it had made it that far north it had been reduced to a noticeable temblor that did little more than make the floor uneasy under our feet and the tiles in the suspended ceiling creak. The other fellow, who had moved from Chicago about six months before, froze, then asked, “Was that… an earthquake?”
“Sure was.”
“I expected something more dramatic.”
“Well, that was a little one, at least for us. During a big one there are two kinds of people, those who are scared and liars.”
Ten years or so ago, we went on a business trip/vacation to the Smokies; first time in that area. We had just finished unloading the van and sat down at the table, when BOOM! Just one huge BOOM! Did a large tree fall over nearby? Nope, earthquake. Near the Smokies. :eek:
I didn’t notice it.
Neither did I.
I wonder how I could have missed it in NJ if it was felt in NY. My house is right next to the Interstate, so I probably subconsciously thought “just a big truck passing by”.
The 1987 earthquake near Carbondale, IL was felt as far away as Detroit. I was working on the 32rd floor of one of the Renaissance Center towers at the time. I remember thinking, “It must be really windy today. You can feel the building sway more than usual.” Learned later what it really was. So I’ve been in a high-rise during an earthquake and lived to tell about it.
That isn’t too unusual. Years ago I was on a conference call with our Palm Springs office when a 5 pointer hit near the Salton Sea. They had the normal California reaction to a moderate quake and a few seconds later we felt the shock. By the time it got to us in Orange County it was a mere wave.
True. If you feel the earth tremble and the windows rattle (think: train going by), that’s an itty bitty one or you are far from the epicenter.
When your house starts bouncing off its foundation and your refrigerator falls over and your chimney collapses into rubble, there’s nobody saying “whee! did you feel that?”