Local residents recount impact from Dec. 12 earthquake

By Shaun Szkolnik

For The Journal

TRUSSVILLE – According to The United States Geological Survey a 4.4 magnitude earthquake, centered near Decatur, Tennessee, ripped through Tennessee and North Georgia on Dec. 12 at around 3:14 a.m.

See related: North Georgia, Tennessee hit by earthquake with 4.4 magnitude

The impact of the event stretched for hundreds of miles and was felt in our area.

“I live just off the interstate in Leeds in a home build in 1977.” Said area resident Christy D. Jones. “Every time a semi-truck goes by on the interstate, I hear my windows rattle and shake. On this particular morning, around 3:30 a.m. I had awoken to let my puppies out. As I waited on them inside, I felt a tremor run from one side of the house to the other and the rattle in my windows was slightly different than what I was used to hearing.”

Jones had never gone through an earthquake before but almost instinctively knew she had been through one.

“I would have easily bet everything on it being a quake, though I have never felt one before.” Jones said.

Later, when Jones confirmed that an earthquake had taken place, she was still a little shaken by the news.

“I was not surprised but a little shocked at how far it had been felt.” Jones said.

Trussville resident Janna Mathews knew something was amiss that morning.

“I set my gym bag in the same spot every day.” Said Mathews. “On the day of the earthquake I set down my gym bag and noticed a large crack running up the wall.”

There was no doubt in Matthew’s mind as to what had caused the crack.

“It had not been there the day before.” Said Mathews. “My first thought was, ‘this is from the earthquake’, something must have moved to create that kind of crack.”