KARNES COUNTY, Texas – People took to social media with questions and curiosity after a 4.5-magnitude earthquake rattled Karnes County Wednesday night.
The earthquake happened just before 9:30 p.m., approximately 44 miles southeast of San Antonio, near Falls City, Texas, according to the United States Geological Survey.
USGS said the earthquake’s depth was 2.3 miles.
The earthquake’s impact was so significant that people in San Antonio also reported feeling the tremors.
To fully understand the earthquake’s magnitude, KSAT decided to head out to the epicenter to hear from people about their first-hand experiences.
Our news crew made stops in Karnes City, Falls City, and Poth, as three people shared their stories with us.
Karnes County Constable Donald Hons
Karnes County Constable Donald Hons said that when the earthquake shook in Karnes City, Texas, he was on the phone when he felt the rattles, but he was unsure what happened.
“I didn’t know right away what it was because it started with my house making noises. But then I started to feel it,” Hons said.
Although the quake lasted only four to five seconds at Hons’ home, he said he wasn’t phased because they are common in Karnes City.
“It happens fairly quickly, but no damages happen in these earthquakes,” Hons said.
KSAT asked what tips he and his agency give residents who may feel scared when earthquakes happen.
Hons said he tells residents to be aware of the regular occurrences and reminds them that Karnes City has never had a significant earthquake.
Trent Enriquez, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Judge, Karnes County
Trent Enriquez, Justice of the Peace Peace Precinct 3 Judge, said he didn’t feel the earthquake. However, he said his neighborhood went to social media and explained what happened following the event.
“They were just saying how it (the earthquake) was shifting couches, beds and everything,” Enriquez said. “It just alerted everyone. It’s almost as if someone was literally shaking their home.”
While Enriquez missed this earthquake, he told KSAT that he had experienced others in his lifetime.
He recalled his last earthquake experience at a Karnes City apartment complex, which he described as “super scary.”
“It literally felt like the whole complex was moving and shifting,” Enriquez said. “We just grabbed on to whatever we were close to, it was definitely scary. We were on the bottom floor, so there were apartments above, so of course, you kind of worry about what could happen if a building shifts.”
Enriquez said he didn’t see any reported damage in his surrounding areas. However, he saw more residents impacted mentally by the earthquake.
Falls City resident Diana Chavez
At our last stop, KSAT talked with Falls City resident Diana Chavez at Circle G Restaurant, which is located in Poth.
Chavez said she felt the earthquake at her Falls City home. However, she said it didn’t startle her because she’s from California. She said growing up on the West Coast was more intense in terms of earthquakes.
“They are not like back home in LA (Los Angeles),” Chavez said. ”Over there, you can feel it because the ground starts shaking and tumbling if it’s a big one, and I felt that.”
Chavez said her dog was slightly scared but said they continued with their day after the rattles.
According to Chavez, she claims she did not see any damage.
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