Columbia and Savage residents reported feeling rumbles from a magnitude 2.5 earthquake on Monday evening.

The Maryland Geological Survey confirmed the small quake took place just after 5:15 p.m.

Rebecca Kavage Adams, a geologist with the Maryland Geological Survey, said the epicenter was about 2.5 miles east of the Riverside community, which is near the intersection of state Routes 32 and 29, south of Columbia.

The quake lasted about 20 seconds, she said, and could be felt by about 775 people.

A U.S. Geological Survey map shows the epicenter in a suburban area near Lake Elkhorn in Howard County.

USGS representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An automated email reply cited the federal government shutdown and said authorities will respond to queries when appropriations are enacted.

Howard County officials confirmed the quake on social media, asking residents to call 911 only in the event of an emergency.

The Howard County Police Department said it had not received reports of damage or injuries.

“That shaking/rattling you felt around 5:17 p.m.? It was a small earthquake,” the department said in a tweet.

Cathy Martello was at home in River Hill eating dinner when she felt a sensation, like something heavy had dropped. Her husband, Jeff, looked outside to see if a neighbor’s tree was being cut down.

The whole foundation of the house shook, Jeff Martello said, adding that it reminded him of a sonic boom.

The couple said they were a little surprised by the quake, but not bothered.

“It didn’t stop us from eating, let’s put it that way,” Cathy Martello said.

The quake went undetected by others.

Columbia resident Ryan Ferris was picking up Chinese food for dinner and didn’t feel a thing when the earthquake struck. His wife later told him that animals reacted to the boom. Birds took flight and the couple’s three dogs ran into the house.

Ferris knew something was up when he arrived home to find neighbors talking outside their homes.

Earthquakes are infrequent but not unheard of in the mid-Atlantic region. One of the most widely felt earthquakes in U.S. history took place in 2011, when a magnitude 5.8 earthquake was detected near Mineral, Virginia. It shook the Washington Monument, severely damaged the city’s National Cathedral and caused an estimated $200 million to $300 million in overall property damage.

Banner reporter Darreonna Davis contributed to this story.