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Afternoon earthquake in New York City surprises Bed-Stuy residents

Shortly before 2:00pm today, an earthquake hit New York City, sending many residents of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn running out of their homes into the street-- some laughing, some crying and some just utterly confused.

"I was on the phone when it happened, and at first I thought I was just getting dizzy," said Lydia from Lafayette Gardens Houses.

"But then I told my son, 'Oh my God, it's an earthquake!' So I got my granddaughter and a few of my things and we all went running out of the apartment downstairs. We thought it was the end of the world, so all were panicked and we all started crying together."

Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to reports, a 5.8 magnitude quake which reportedly originated in Virginia also could be felt up and down the Eastern Seaboard, in Washington, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

Shamair Clark, 21, said it was the first time she ever felt an earthquake in her life. "I thought I was buggin', I didn't know what was happening," she said.

Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I was in the bathroom, and suddenly everything started rocking. I saw the medicine cabinet started shaking. Then it got stronger and stronger. So I said, 'Ma, you feel that?' And she said, 'Oh my God, I think we're having an earthquake.' My heart started racing, I was so scared."

The US Geological Survey's website shows where the earthquake orginated.

Anthony LaPomp, a UPS worker, said he was making a delivery when he first felt the quake: "I was in the lobby of the building. At first I thought it was just me, and that I was dizzy. But then I heard the walls of the building crack. And then the building manager came out and asked, 'Did you feel that?' That's when I realized, it could have only been an earthquake."

Peter Bartoszek, deputy inspector for the 79th police precinct, says the earthquake didn't seem to affect anyone in Bed-Stuy, and there were no injuries. "There were no unusual 911 calls related to it," said Bartoszek. "Extra police personnel are being held until further notice."

"The Bible talks about that this is the last days, so I didn't know," said Lydia who is a devout Jehovah's Witness. "The president, the mayor, the news, no one could tell us that it was about to happen; it just happened. Just like this... when God is ready for the rapture, none of us will expect it. It's already written."

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