Most of Georgia had a rude awakening on Wednesday morning when a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck as we slept peacefully in our beds.
Startled Atlantans took to Twitter.com in search of confirmation that they weren’t dreaming.
Earthquakes occur when underground rocks shift and shake the earth. The damage to roadways and property depends on the magnitude of the seismic activity.
I woke up at 4:15 a.m. as my bed and the entire room shook violently. I sat straight up in bed and screamed out loud as my ceiling fan swayed back and forth for 10 seconds then stopped.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 4.4 magnitude earthquake was recorded 7 miles northeast of Decatur, Tennessee. Tremors were felt 160 miles away.
“Yes, we felt it, too! We’re working to confirm if there was an #earthquake in Georgia just now,” WSBTV tweeted at 4:20 a.m. in Atlanta. WSB reports more aftershocks will follow the big one.
Most of us who live in the Metro Atlanta area are used to minor tremors over the years. But last night’s seismic activity was the strongest tremor most of us have experienced.
Hundreds of Atlantans shared their earthquake stories on WSBTV’s Twitter timeline under the hashtags #earthquake and #atlantaearthquake.
Some users who have pets say their animals “freaked out” and looked to them for answers.
One woman said her husband slept through the big #AtlantaEarthquake. He told her she was imagining things.
Did you feel the big #AtlantaEarthquake this morning? Share your experiences below!
Yes, we felt it, too! We're working to confirm if there was an #earthquake in Georgia just now. Watch Channel 2 Action News starting at 4:30 a.m.
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) December 12, 2018
Yes it was a #GAearthquake I was born and raised in California. I can smell em a mile away. Not a big one go back to bed.
— samiller12 (@caligirlpve) December 12, 2018
Yeah, but what if a bigger one follows! My heart rate is off the roof. We don't do #earthquake in Georgia. Lol!
— Life Solutions Home Services (@LifeSolutionsH) December 12, 2018
I thought I was going crazy, but when I looked at the cat and she was looking around too, I knew I wasn’t crazy.
— Steven Boyd (@StevenHBoyd) December 12, 2018
Felt it in canton, it was a long one! Being from California, i thought I’d be getting away from the earthquakes but i guess not ?
— ?? (@marialuna__) December 12, 2018
I thought my dad fell out the bed I ran upstairs he sleep look outside no tree hit the house scared the s*** out of me
— SnowBaby (@snowbabyiv) December 12, 2018
It jolted me awake in Buckhead at 4:15 a.m. The whole house was shaking. I thought someone was breaking in! Minor tremors occur often in Atlanta, but this one was the biggest. #AtlantaEarthquake
— Sandra Rose (@SandraRose) December 12, 2018
Photo by Vchal/Getty Images
