Overview
- The U.S. Geological Survey logged the quake at 5:17 p.m. Monday with an epicenter near Hopewell Park in Columbia’s Owen Brown neighborhood at a depth of about five miles.
- Howard County police and fire surveyed nearby communities and reported no injuries or significant damage, reiterating that 911 should be used only for emergencies.
- About 1,000 people reported feeling the shaking to the Maryland Geological Survey, following initial USGS felt reports posted soon after the event.
- State and regional instruments detected the quake as far away as Frederick County, confirming a wide observational footprint for a small event.
- Seismologists say aftershocks are unlikely but possible for up to a week, noting Maryland experiences occasional small quakes and has recorded past tremors near Columbia, including in 2001 and 2002.