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Quake shakes Whitchurch-Stouffville homes, offices is the first time I have felt sbme- thing that actually scared me,” she said. “I bong-time Sharon resident Lynn [ewis was working at home yesterday when the dishes on her counter began to vibrate. She was convinced, at first, it was a large truck passing by- But when her three cats and dog began to look frightened and the sound of the rattling plates grew louder, she thought earthquake. BY TERESA LATCHFORD tlatchford@yrmg.com It was anything but a regular Wednesday afternoon for people across York Region. NEWS: Tremor moves couch in Ballantrae, boosts emergency calls across region She said she is prepared for a fire and medical emergency, however, she never expected she would have to have a plan “I thought I was feeling ill at first," she said. “But the pictures on the walls began to move and our heavy leather couch moved across the floor.” Ballantrae resident Nancy DiGiovanni admits she wouldn’t know what to do in the case of an earthquake either, but will be looking into it in after today’s experience. have never thought of being prepared for an earthquake because I don’t expect it up here." Mayor Wayne Emmerson felt it from his fourth-floor office in Stouffville’s Imperial Centre. “(Ottawa) is part of a seismic area and small quakes are common," she said. “But ones of this magnitude happen once every decade." The ground shook for about 10 seconds at about 1:45 pm, said Science North stafi scientist Amy Henson, who confirr'ned the 5.5-magnitude quake was centred on the Ontario-Quebec border and tremors were felt across Ontario and parts of the United States. whag to do in the event of an earthquake “It looks like it was a relatively minor earth- quake here in York Region," he said. York Region Chairperson Bill Fisch, who was in a Police Services Board meeting at the time the tremor struck, said he had not heard any reports of damage across the region. “There was one call and even that was only because it was the business’ policy to pull the alarm if something like that happens," he said. “That's all we’ve had." contact, according to Const. Rebecca Boyd However Central York Fire Services received just one related call, platoon Chief Dan Palmer said.