Oct. 11, 2008 — Residents across the territory started their day with a good shake when a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit 50 miles north of Little Harbour, Jost Van Dyke at 6:40 a.m. Saturday. The earthquake was focused 17 miles beneath the sea floor.
Pets ran for cover as walls shook and windows rattled. One resident reported his house swayed.
While seismologists can't say how long the earthquake lasted, residents said it went on "forever."
"It was pretty impressive and loud," Coral Bay, St. John resident Anne Klenke said.
No damage was reported.
Klenke's husband, Robert, was just getting on his ham radio for the morning get together with other hams in the area.
"Everybody was commenting," he said.
Fortuna, St. Thomas resident Gary Metz was sound asleep when the earthquake hit.
"It woke me up. I could hear it and feel it," he said.
Within an hour of the earthquake, travel forum participants noted the earthquake. One pointed out that it had made the CNN news.
Jacqueline Heyliger, deputy director at the V.I Territorial Emergency Management Agency on St. Croix, said she got reports from all over St. Croix that residents felt the earthquake.
"It was heavily felt," she said.
Heyliger warned that although this one didn't generate a tsunami, when residents feel an earthquake, they should move away from the sea.
"Move as far inland as possible," she urged.
And when an earthquake hits, residents should get under something solid, hang on stay put until the earthquake is over.
"Duck, cover and hold," she said, referring to the slogan used to help keep residents safe when an earthquake hits.
As for Heyliger, she was taking her morning swim and didn't feel a thing.
