The Spinning Wheel Diner in Lebanon, N.J., found itself at the center of chaos when an earthquake struck the area, leaving patrons and staff shaken up.
As the servers heard the china rattling on the shelves, customers in the red vinyl booths quickly realized that the shaking was not limited to the indoors. Alexia Anastasiou, a hostess at the diner, described how everything seemed to be trembling – the trees, the cars, and the ground itself.
The epicenter of the earthquake was later confirmed to be in Hunterdon County, about 50 miles west of New York City. Drivers on the road initially thought they were experiencing car trouble, while others likened the sensation to a bomb going off.
At the Oldwick General Store, the quake was so intense that employees mistook it for a truck crashing into the building. Kristina Feeley described how everyone froze in place until the ground finally felt stable again.
In the heart of the state’s horse country, the earthquake also affected local stables. Trish Hegeman, executive director of Mane Stream, a therapeutic riding stable, immediately recognized the quake from her time living in California. Despite the proximity to the epicenter, all 13 therapy horses remained calm.
At a nearby riding stable in Califon, the earthquake caused the indoor arena to shake, sending horses galloping around the ring in a panic. Dr. Brendan Furlong, an equine veterinarian, was in the middle of a procedure when the barn started to rattle, startling the sedated horse awake.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, not even for the startled horse. The community, although shaken, came together to ensure the safety of both people and animals in the aftermath of the unexpected earthquake.
