People living near Amherst started their Thanksgiving holiday with a bang this year when the area was hit by an earthquake Wednesday evening.

Seismologists at Virginia Tech say the earthquake shook the central part of the state around 5:30 p.m. The earthquake measured 2.7 in magnitude.

Amherst County public safety officials say they got numerous calls from residents who said they felt the ground shake in the areas of Nelson, Amherst and Appomattox counties.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports the epicenter was about ten or 15 miles southeast of Appomattox.

One resident who felt the quake, Holly Jones, says, "It kind of startled me more afterwards that I was really feeling kind of scared."

Sandy Jones, who also felt the quake, says, "I wouldn't want to experience anything, more because I know this house has a pretty solid foundation and it was definitely shaking."

Amherst County Public Safety Director Gary Roakes says some residents reported pictures falling from walls and there was one report of a roof gutter falling.

Some residents in Nelson County also reported shaking.

Seismological Observatory Director Martin Chapman says earthquakes of this size are routine in Virginia.

(The Associated Press provided some of the information in this story.)