911 Calls Capture Panic As Quake Hits Maryland
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- The earthquake along the East Coast caught everyone off guard.
Derek Valcourt has some of the newly-released 911 calls that capture the panic the moment the earthquake hit.
Maryland's 911 centers were flooded with calls in the hours after the quake. Everyone asking the same basic question: "What was that?"
Some 911 callers were already on the phone reporting another emergency when the earthquake hit.
911 Caller: "What is that? Was that an earthquake?"
Dispatcher: "Yeah. I think that was an earthquake. Did you feel that shaking too?"
911 Caller: "Yeah. The.. the.. the house is shaking."
Dispatcher: "We're shaking too. I need your name..."
And then the avalanche of calls began.
"I'm just trying to figure out what in the crap just happened here in Joppatown?"
911 Caller: "My entire house just shook. Now, I could have sworn I saw the whole insides moving at least a foot. I had things falling off the shelves and stuff."
Dispatcher: "OK. And so did we here, sir. Is there an emergency there? Any fire, smoke, any stuff like that?"
911 Caller: "No, no, no. None of that."
911 caller: "My house, about seven minutes ago, severely went into a shaking spasm."
Dispatcher: "Yes, ma'am. It happened here in Towson also."
At Harford County's 911 center, they normally take about 30 calls an hour. But after the earthquake, it was one of the busiest hours they've ever had.
"We had 428 911 calls," said Rick Ayers, Harford County Emergency Manager. "So we increased the staffing right away in the 911 center."
Ayers says in the hour after the earthquake, they took 428 911 calls. Baltimore County reports taking 780 911 calls. The city's 911 center says more than 2,400 people called in about the earthquake. Harford County utilized its emergency notification system to broadcast texts and emails about the quake to people who have signed up for them.
"And we did notice after that message went out, the calls dramatically declined," Ayers said.
But in some counties, the 911 calls continued for hours.
Dispatcher: "We do have reports that there was an earthquake in Virginia."
911 Caller: "Oh my God! Is that what it was?"
Dispatcher: "Yes ma'am."
911 Caller: "It was scary! I thought, 'What in the world is going on here?'"
Harford County officials said this quake is a good example of why people need to sign up for their emergency text or e-mail notification system. Visit the Harford County Division of Emergency Operations website to sign up for the alerts, or call (410) 638-4029 to add your cell phone number to the notification system.
