Earlier Tuesday afternoon an earthquake hit the east coast, the epicenter located in Virginia with rippling tremors from the Carolina’s up to Maine and reports in Canada. At the end of the day recorded at a 5.8 on the Richter Scale, the east coast had not experienced one of such magnitude in over 100 years.

Here at the eZanga office, most of the employees were on their lunch break in the diner or break room watching television, at first tremors seeming very minor and almost unnoticeable. As loose objects began rattling and shaking to a somewhat unnerving beat, some employees ran outside noticing that most of the other buildings in the Middletown professional center had evacuated as well (Ok, ok..we know, it really wasn’t that bad…but better safe than sorry?). Collectively we stammered to call/text loved ones; however, most of the networks were busy.

Immediately everyone up and down the east coast simultaneously turned to social media. “Customers in East may experience intermittent delay making/receiving calls after recent earthquake. This is a temporary mass calling event,” Sprint told their Twitter network. Followed by Verizon’s tweet, “There was some network congestion in the East after tremors. Continuing to monitor.” Facebook feeds flooded with accounts of the quake..and oh yea, don’t forget to check in to Earthquakepocalypse on Foursquare–you can earn a badge!

When all is said and done, it’s reassuring to know there is at least one form of communication the masses can turn to in case of emergency–thanks Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare.

Next week, Social Media and Hurricane Irene. Stay tuned.