At 10:23 a.m. Friday, much of the Philadelphia area experienced the effects of a 4.8-magnitude earthquake centered near Lebanon, N.J.
The shaking, which was felt from Maryland to Connecticut and lots of places in between, also brought out some of what we love about social media: the opportunity for thousands of people to instantly react to a shared experience in both useful and entertaining ways.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights (and a few lowlights) that we saw today online:
Among the reactions on social media, there was some debate as to whether Philly or New York would take ownership for the earthquake that definitely was centered in New Jersey.
The New Jersey erasure is really an ongoing issue.
Meanwhile, within the Garden State, the quake reunited an age-old debate between north and south.
The Philadelphia Police assured residents they were well aware of the earthquake and asked people to save calling 911 for emergencies.
Congratulations to everyone that didn’t panic — or maybe didn’t even notice — when the building they were in shook.
Some say they deliberately chose to ignore it.
The Pennsylvania SPCA gave the important news that Zeus, and everyone else there, is safe.
The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau wasted no time tying the seismic activity to this weekend’s wrestling extravaganza. (Although, technically, the Royal Rumble was in January, this is WrestleMania weekend.)
Some folks were quick to point out that shirts paying homage to the earthquake would soon be available.
Ask and you shall receive, thanks to the swift design work of local artist GRIMGRIMGRIM.
One item of clothing that is catching some karmic blame for the quake was the Phillies’ new City Connect uniform.
While some commenters took a pessimistic view of the world’s general mood.
Philly last felt an earthquake this large back in 2011, and one redditor has been sitting on a meme for this day with admirable patience:
And finally, we have a winner for worst place to be during today’s earthquake, and that award goes to Justin Allen, who was undergoing, ahem, sensitive surgery when the room started to shake.
