Earthquakes Hit North Carolina: Drop, Cover, Hold On

0:00It's March 24, Durham News Today starts now. AI-powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. Two small earthquakes hit near Dillsboro, North Carolina, late Monday evening. The first struck around 8pm with a magnitude of 2.7 followed by another at about 10pm, measuring 1.7. Both were shallow and mild. The kind that usually go unnoticed. Even so, more than 700 people reported feeling the larger one with weak shaking sensed as far as 295 miles away in. Raleigh. No one felt the smaller quake, and there's no word of any damage. These events remind us that quakes can happen anywhere in the US, though they're rarer in places like North Carolina compared to states such as California or Alaska. Experts note that shakes under 2.5 magnitude typically aren't noticeable, but anything above can rattle nerves without causing harm. In case of shaking, the key is to drop, cover, and hold on right where you are.

1:02Get low to your hands and knees, shield your head and neck, and grab a sturdy table if you can. If you're driving, pull over safely, outdoors, steer clear of buildings. Staying prepared means knowing aftershocks could follow, so check for hazards like gas leaks or downlines afterward and always prioritize that. Simple, drop, cover, hold on routine to keep safe.