The United States Geological Survey confirmed that tremors and loud noises on Thursday in Bellefonte were the result of seismic activity in the area, according to Bellefonte Area School District.
The school district reported early Thursday afternoon that Bellefonte Area High School and Middle School had been experiencing the tremors and booming noises but that the schools were safe and classes were continuing as normal.
District administrators sent a follow-up message to families around 2 p.m. stating, ‘We have received information from USGS that the loud noises and tremors we are experiencing are a part of seismic activity in the area.’
The Pennsylvania State Seismic Network recorded a magnitude 1.1 tectonic event as having occurred in Bellefonte on Thursday.
Andrew Nyblade, a Penn State professor of geosciences and principal investigator for the seismic network project, said several seismic events were recorded on the network, but only one was large enough to reveal a location. He said the data will be further analyzed.
Bellefonte police said they had received numerous calls from residents who experienced houses shaking and the loud noises. Several comments on social media by residents indicated similar activity on the southeast side of Bellefonte in the general area of the high school and middle school.
Don Holderman, Bellefonte Borough assistant manager, said calls began coming in between 11:30 a.m. and noon about the activity. Borough officials checked with local companies and found no cases of blasting in the area that would have cause the tremors.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
