2024

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake centered in New Jersey caused minor tremors on Martha’s Vineyard Friday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Earthquake Hazards program. 

2020

A minor earthquake rattled Island residents just after 9 a.m. Sunday. The National Earthquake Center initially reported a 4.0 magnitude, but later downgraded it to 3.6.

The quake was centered near Dartmouth, on the shore of the border between Massachusetts and Rhode Island, said Don Blakeman, a geophysicist with the National Earthquake Center. The center listed the location as 11 kilometers south of Bliss Corner.

Mr. Blakeman said the magnitude of the earthquake was unusual for New England.

2011

An earthquake centered in Virginia Tuesday afternoon was felt hundreds of miles away, including on the Vineyard. The 5.8 magnitude earthquake was felt strongly in Washington, D.C. and up the East Coast. On the Vineyard, the county communications center received a handful of calls reporting shakes, including one from the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, according Linda Cook, a spokesman for the communications center and a lieutenant for the county sheriff’s department.

There were two small earthquakes near and under Nashawena Island on Sunday night, about halfway between Martha’s Vineyard and New Bedford. The first earthquake, a magnitude 2.1, barely perceptible quake, took place at 8:39 p.m. The second occurred seven minutes later and was recorded at 1.3 in magnitude.

Nashawena is one of the Islands in the Elizabeth chain of islands. It is just east of Cuttyhunk. There were reports of the first earthquake being felt in Fall River and places nearby.

Two small earthquakes were reported on Sunday night near Nashawena in the Elizabeth islands chain, east of Cuttyhunk. One of the quakes was felt in Fall River.

The first earthquake, a magnitude of 2.1, took place at 8:39 p.m. The second occurred seven minutes later and was recorded at a magnitude of 1.3.

2008

On Monday, May 12, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake devastated southwestern China. By that Saturday, Laura Kimball was mobilized.

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School senior set out to raise money around the Island for children affected by the disaster.

She went to Main streets in Edgartown and Vineyard Haven. She went to Stop & Shop. During the next week she collected money in her school’s cafeteria — “So kids can be part of it too” — and then went to her school’s talent show and the Tisbury town picnic.

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