An earthquake of 2,9-magnitude shocked West-Washington woke up Thursday, August 21, reported the US Geological Survey.
The 5.7 mile deep earthquake hit less than a mile of Mount Vernon at 1:01 am, according to the USGS.
More than 130 people reported to feel it as far away as Seattle and Bellingham.
Mount Vernon has a population of around 35,000.
Many people responded on Facebook and said the earthquake woke them up, shook their house or rattled their bed.
“It shook the house. I am less than a mile of the epicenter in East Mount Vernon. It was perhaps 15 seconds,” a person noted.
“I felt it in Big Lake. I thought it was a jet who flew over the head of the navy base,” said another person.
“Yes, I was in bed in La Conner and my bed shook under me,” someone else noticed.
“Yes, woke me and the dog in Mount Vernon,” wrote another person.
What about earthquakes
Magnitude measures the energy that is released at the source of the earthquake, says the US Geological Survey. It replaces the old Richter scale.
Quakes are between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude often felt But rarely causes a lot of damage, according to Michigan Tech. Quakes below 2.5 size are rarely felt by most people.
Earthquakes' suddenlyShaking quickly can burn, cause tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen everywhere, but they are most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
If an earthquake strikes, it is best to protect yourself immediately. Here are tips from experts:
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If you're in a car: Turn over and stop. Set your parking brake.
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When you're in bed: Turn the face down and cover your head with a pillow.
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If you are outside: Stay away from buildings. Don't go inside.
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If you are inside: Don't stay outside. Stay away from doors.
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to fall, cover and hold, say civil servants.
“Wherever you are, fall on your hands and knees and hold something firm,” say civil servants. “If you use a wheelchair or walker with a chair, make sure that your wheels are locked and sit down until the shaking stops.”
Make sure you cover your head and neck with your arms and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If there is no hiding place available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
Once under a table, civil servants say that you have to hold with one hand and be ready to move with it.
“There may be serious dangers after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water pipes or high-voltage lines,” said civil servants. “Expect that after -shocks will follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to drop, cover and hold when you feel a after -shock.”
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