3.5 earthquake reported off Ala. coast

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) -  There was a small earthquake off the coast of Alabama Friday night.

The United States Geological Survey reports the 3.5 magnitude earthquake happened at 5:15 p.m. The epicenter was located in the Gulf of Mexico about 10 miles southwest of Gulf Shores.

Just after the reported time of the quake, the Fox10 Newsroom received numerous phone calls from people along the coast who said they felt the tremor.

Dauphin Island is just 17 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake.

One woman on the island said she was lying in bed when her house started to shake.

“It started with just a small rumble and then it built. It just started shaking the walls and everything in the house,” she said.

Another woman was on the phone with her sister in West Mobile when the quake hit. She said they both felt it.

“It was just very long, like ‘boom boom boom,” she said.

One resident was at her house and said it was a shocking experience.

“My whole house shook, my whole body was shaking. I’ve never felt anything like it,” she said.

Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier said after he felt the shaking, his phone began to ring with people wondering what was going on. He said local authorities were all flooded with calls.

“The police department dispatcher was just flooded with calls as you can imagine, with people just wondering what was going on,” said Collier.

One resident said it was a little bit of a wake up call.

“You never can be too prepared for anything. Were used to hurricanes and you’ve got plenty of time to prepare. Now I know how people in California feel,” she said.

Mayor Collier said as of Friday night, there had been no injuries or damage reported. He said in his 50-years on the island, this was the first time he had felt anything like this and hope it will be the last.