Residents in Howard County were startled late Monday afternoon amid a 2.5-magnitude earthquake that sent tremors throughout Columbia and Savage.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake was centered east of Riverside, near several homes in the neighborhood.

“I was so shocked. I mean, it was a really strong feeling,” said Barbara Minah, a resident who was about to go shopping when the earthquake began just after 5 p.m. “There was a loud sound and a shake, and I thought it might have been an earthquake. I heard the boom and heard the definite shake, (It was) very quick; it didn’t last for long.”

Minah said she wondered whether she should stay home until she knew what had happened.

“My heart was really going when it was happening,” said Eric Morton, another resident, who wa

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