2.7 magnitude earthquake occurs in Midlothian

MIDLOTHIAN – Mansfield resident Krista Tutton was sitting in her living room when felt what she thought was an earthquake or explosion, she said.

Sure enough, at 2:12 p.m. Thursday, a 2.7 earthquake struck in Midlothian. The epicenter of the earthquake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) website, happened in the 300 block of Lakeview drive in Midlothian. Midlothian police dispatchers stated they didn’t receive any calls related to the quake.

“I was just sitting on the couch and all of sudden it felt like something hit the back of the couch,” Tutton said. “And I looked behind me and noticed the couch hadn't moved and I thought that had to have been an earthquake or some time of explosion.”

Tutton lived in Waxahachie when a fertilize plant in West exploded more than a year ago, she said. That’s how she knew it had to be something big, she said. Tutton lives off E. Broad Road and U.S. Highway 287, which is about 6 miles from the epicenter.

“My step-mom came walking in and she asked if I felt it and she said, ‘that just rattled my windows in the bedroom,” Tutton said.

This quake comes two days after Irving experienced two larger quakes, a 3.5 and 3.6 on Tuesday, followed by about 10 small quakes or aftershocks.

“It's getting kind of scary,” said ?Janie Lopez-Perez on the Waxahachie Daily Light Faceboook page. “Now it’s getting close to home.”

Though the Midlothian police dispatchers said they didn’t receive any calls, the USGS website stated at least 12 people in the Midlothian area reported feeling the quake. The USGS website has a location online at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/. One person in Dallas one person in Mansfield, four in Alvarado and six people in Venus have reported feeling the quake, according to the site.

Others responded with humor, saying things like “I ate a taco for lunch,” or said they didn’t feel it at all.

According to Earthquake Country Allience, the best ways to prepare for an earthquake are secure movable items, creating a disaster plan with loved ones, organize disaster supplies and important documents in convenient locations, and drop, cover and hold on when earthquakes do occur, as well as evacuate when necessary.

On the USGS 2014 Seismic Hazard activity map, the map shows higher than normal activity in the northeast portion of the county, with a 4-8 percent hazard rate. The rest of the county is 2-4 percent. The depth of the 2.7 earthquakes was about 3 miles.

USGS representatives did not respond by press time regarding the risk factor on whether other earthquakes might occur in the area. This story is developing. Check back for more.

Midlothian Mirror Managing Editor Bethany Peterson contributed to this report.