LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — If your group chats lit up with “did you feel that?” Sunday night, you weren’t alone. The U.S. Geological Survey logged a small earthquake in New York State around 7:50 p.m. Sunday, with preliminary reports placing it near Keeseville in the North Country. It was a low-magnitude event—the kind that’s typically more “quick jolt or faint rumble” than anything disruptive.

This wasn’t a citywide emergency and there’s no reason to panic. But it’s a good reminder that the Northeast does get earthquakes—and they can feel surprising even when they’re small.

Where it was, and why it might have felt bigger than it sounds

A quake in the low-2 range is considered minor and not expected to cause damage. That said, people sometimes notice a brief shake, a vibration, or a light “thump,” especially if they’re indoors, sitting still, or on upper floors.

One reason small quakes get noticed in our region is the geology: East Coast seismic waves can travel efficiently through older, denser rock, so a modest event can sometimes be felt across a wider area than people expect. That doesn’t mean it’s stronger—it just means the motion can carry.

Did Long Island feel it?

Most Long Islanders likely did not feel this one strongly, if at all. When a quake is centered far north, the effects downstate are usually subtle—more of a “maybe” than a clear shake. Still, even subtle events can trigger big attention because we’re simply not used to them.

If you felt something, it could also have been one of the usual suspects: heavy trucks, building mechanical systems, a door slam echo, or a quick pressure-wave from nearby activity. The USGS event helps anchor what was real and where.

What to do if you felt shaking (simple and calm)

• If it happens again: Drop, Cover, and Hold On (the standard guidance).

• Afterward: Check shelves, frames, and anything top-heavy for wobble risk.

• Help confirm the map: The USGS “Did You Feel It?” reports (submitted by the public) help scientists understand where shaking was noticed and how it varied by neighborhood and building type.

Are earthquakes common in New York?

More than most people realize—just usually small. New York experiences occasional intraplate quakes (quakes away from plate boundaries), often linked to ancient faults and long-term geologic stress. Most are too small to notice, but every now and then one lines up with the right time of day and the right conditions and suddenly everyone’s talking about it.

What we’re watching next

USGS listings sometimes update details after the initial report (location refinements, depth adjustments, and sometimes tiny changes in magnitude). If anything materially changes—like a revised magnitude, a confirmed aftershock, or an updated shake map—we’ll update this post.

Sources (for transparency; non-clickable)

• PIX11 report citing USGS earthquake data

• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Latest Earthquakes / Earthquake Hazards Program

• Times Union explainer on New York earthquakes and why small events can still be felt regionally