As residents of New Jersey attempted to bounce back from the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy , they were faced with another force of nature on Monday — an earthquake.
According to the US Geological Survey, a magnitude-2.0 quake struck at 1:19 am and was centered two miles south-southeast of Ringwood, New Jersey, not far from the border with New York.
Though some residents reported hearing a loud “boom” noise, Ringwood police say there are no reports of damage from the quake although, it’s hard to tell since many citizens of the small town are still without power and are dealing with downed trees since Sandy blew through one week ago.
The quake was 3 miles below ground and could also be felt in Mahwah, Wanaque, Oakland, Franklin Lakes, West Milford, and Paterson, the USGS reported.
CNN notes that earthquakes in the eastern United States occur far less frequently, and even minor ones like the Ringwood quake are typically felt over a larger area than quakes in the western part of the country.
The largest quake ever recorded in New Jersey was a magnitude 5.3 temblor in 1783, and the last earthquake in the state had a 2.2 magnitude and was recorded in February 2010, according to the USGS .
