No Damage, But Earthquake Felt In Peekskill

PEEKSKILL – While the 5.9 earthquake centered in Virginia was felt by some city residents, no damage was reported in Peekskill.

City Manager Rick Finn also said the quake left Peekskill unscathed.

“We’re not aware of any damage in the city, but we have people out double-checking,” Finn said.

“There were no damages and no injuries,” said Peekskill Police spokesman Sergeant Ray Henderlong. “I didn’t feel it but someone else here at the station did.” Henderlong said that in the case of a more serious earthquake, a station across the river in Rockland County that measures the magnitude of earthquakes would alert them. The city’s department of emergency services would take over in the case of a serious quake that caused significant damage, Henderlong said.

However, he said that private business owners in the city are responsible for initiating an evacuation. “Of course we would assist in that evacuation and possibly even go as far as [providing] transportation,” Henderlong said. “We would certainly set up a local area shelter, especially for the elderly or people in need.”

Just down the road in Buchanan, Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant went to an “Abnormal Operating Procedures” status, according to Entergy Spokesman Jim Steets,. Abnormal Operating Procedures, or AOP, mean that the plant is being inspected for damage, although none has yet been found.

“If there was a reason for people to protect themselves the sirens would go off,” Steets said.

Jessica Glenza of The Daily Cortlandt contributed to this article.

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