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VERO BEACH, Fla. — Residents on the Treasure Coast are reeling with surprise after the U.S. Geological Survey said a 4.0 magnitude earthquake hit off of Florida's coast in a rare occurrence.

"I couldn’t believe it," Keith Snyder, who was visiting Vero Beach, said. "It's kind of crazy, right?"

"Wow, I didn't even realize it was that," Vero Beach resident Hannah Bellis said. "I didn't feel anything, so I was surprised to see my friend text me about it."

The USGS said the earthquake happened about 100 east of Cape Canaveral in the Atlantic Ocean at around 10:48 p.m. Wednesday.

"That's weird!" Vero Beach resident Rashad said. "In the state of Florida, I never heard about no earthquake, so that's weird."

"We never felt it," Vero Beach resident Linda Hillman said.

Her husband agreed.

"Nothing," Steve Hillman said.

Many people in Indian River County told WPTV they didn't feel the quake, but according to the USGS, people from Palm Coast down through Stuart said they felt or heard the tremors. One of those is Vero Beach resident Ruth Carter.

"It was a rumble," Carter said. "Between 10:45 and eleven o'clock, I was watching TV and then all of the sudden, I heard this like, thunder rumbling or roaring in the distance."

To complicate things more, later that next morning around 1:30 a.m., Space X launched its Falcon 9 rocket, causing what USGS Seismologist Paul Earle believes was likely a sonic boom.

"It was really loud, yes," Carter said.

"It was a very strong, almost like an explosion," added Vero Beach resident Lisa French.

"That was out of the blue," added Rashad, who said he heard the boom too.

Earle said sonic booms, especially near Cape Canaveral, are relatively common for Florida, but said earthquakes definitely are not, since Florida is one of the most geographically stable areas in the country.

"An earthquake with this magnitude can happen just about anywhere in the U.S.," Earle said, "but earthquakes in Florida are uncommon."

"That’s not normal," said French. "I didn't even know you could get them here."

WATCH: USGS Seismologist talks about Florida earthquake

While uncommon, they do happen in Florida.

According to the USGS website, there have been at least 22 earthquakes since 1992. Earle said with this latest, there could be more on the way, which would likely be minimal aftershocks only felt from the ocean.

"When you do have an earthquake, the chances of having another do go up," said Earle.

That wasn't comforting to the many residents who thought the hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding Florida experiences were the end of the state's major weather events.

"Now you have that to add to your resume," Snyder joked.

"It was a little scary," added Carter.

Earle said it's a good reminder to be prepared, but said there's no reason to be fearful.

Still, Carter said she hopes the state's tectonic plates stay in place, at least, for a while.

"It interrupted my sleep!" joked Carter.

Did you feel the quake? If so, you can report it to the USGS here.

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Located just a bit north of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach is one of the most underrated destinations along Florida's Atlantic Coast. Known for outstanding golf, water sports, and fishing, this is the perfect community for active boomers that are looking to pack some adventure into their retirement years.

In addition to all kinds of activities for active adults, Vero Beach is also known for having a rich history of museums and art galleries, excellent boutique shopping, and some outstanding dining options for a wide range of budgets.

Vero Beach History

The history of Vero Beach dates all the way back to 1715 when a fleet of Spanish treasure ships ran into a hurricane that sunk 11 of 12 ships right off the coast. However, it wasn't until Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway began operating in 1893 that settlers began coming to what was then the town of Vero.

The town name was changed to “Vero Beach” in 1925, and the population then grew steadily throughout the rest of the century as various bridges made it easier and easier to get around the area.

Vero Beach Lifestyle

The Vero Beach lifestyle revolves around enjoying everything about the outdoors, and the best places to start doing just that are local parks like Riverside Park, Round Island Beach Park, and Jaycee Park.

Once you have explored those popular local spots, you'll definitely want to spend some time checking out some of the local airboat tour companies.

For more competitive boomers, fishing and golf are at the top of the lifestyle list. Vero Beach has dozens of options for private fishing charters, plus there are also some outstanding golf courses in the area.

On top of all of that, there are always options for new and exciting water sports like stand-up paddle boarding available for residents and guests to enjoy!

Vero Beach Culture

The beautiful surrounds of Vero Beach have acted as an inspiration for artists and musicians of all types for almost as long as the city has existed. Today, the focal point of the artist community is the Vero Beach Museum of Art, which offers a stunning permanent collection, outstanding traveling exhibits, and classes to help local artist hone their skills.

Between the Riverside Theatre and the Vero Beach Theatre Guild, there is also a thriving theatre community in Vero Beach that is perfect for those who enjoys taking in a show. It is also a great opportunity to get involved if you would like to participate on stage!

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Vero Beach Shopping

Like most of the small town communities along the Treasure Coast, Vero Beach is home to dozens of locally owned shopping destinations that create a thrilling experience for anyone looking for a little retail therapy.

Shoppers tend to gravitate toward either the Beachfront Shopping District or Historic Downtown Vero Beach, and each of those destinations is packed full of boutique specialty shops, consignment and thrift stores, and antique dealers.

In addition to the locally owned operations, shoppers can also head to the Indian River Mall to locate all of their favorite mainstream stores to complete their adventure.

Vero Beach Dining

When you are looking for a casual bite to eat in Vero Beach, one place that will always make your shortlist is The Barefoot Cafe. The Barefoot Cafe has a fantastic selection of grilled wraps and toasted subs.

Other casual options that should be in your regular rotation include all of the crab dishes from Crab Stop Vero Beach and the Brisket Fried Rice from Southern Social.

If you are in the mood for something a little fancier, the classic Vero Beach spot is Ocean Grill. This local icon sits right on the water and serves up some of the most delicious seafood you will find anywhere in the Sunshine State.

Vero Beach Area Communities

Just down the road in Port St. Lucie is where you'll find Valencia Walk at Riverland, the newest 55+ community on Florida’s East Coast.

Building on the resounding success of both Valencia Cay and Valencia Grove, which sold out at unprecedented rates, GL Homes is excited to introduce Valencia Walk at Riverland! The third 55+ community to be built as a part of the overall 4,000-acre Riverland masterplan, Valencia Walk offers the next generation of new home designs, incredible amenities, and is located in very close proximity to Riverland’s 5-acre Arts & Culture Center, as well as the future City Parks and Town Center.

You can request more information here:

Between the excellent dining choices, the unique shopping destinations, and the local emphasis on arts and culture, it's easy to forget that the heart of Vero Beach is all about enjoying the water. But because this town offers a little bit of something for everyone, it ends up being the perfect destination for many different types of boomers.

Are you one of them?

VERO BEACH, Fla. — The city of Vero Beach is more than a century old. So, city leaders are looking for new ways to revitalize its downtown.

At a health fair Wednesday, nurse practitioner Melissa Meadows was asked about the health of Vero Beach’s downtown.

“I love walking the streets," she said. "We have beautiful antiques and incredible restaurants."

At the Italian Kitchen, longtime restauranteur Ralph Cuccurese said downtown has come a long way since the mid 1990s when he first opened up.

“A lot more restaurants, which is more competition but that’s fine with me, because they’re bringing more people into the area," Cuccurese said.

However, city leaders know there’s much more they can do. This week, open forums are being held to discuss a developing downtown master plan designed to boost business, and the population.

“What we want is housing downtown. What we want is young people living here with relatively small units, which is relatively affordable," Andres Duany, of urban planning firm DPZ CoDesign, said.

Duany said the key is keeping the next generation around.

“I think the retail on its own is going to get quite cool, quite edgy, different from the beach,” he said.

Mayor John Cotugno said it's important to grow, but still keep some of the existing feel.

“We have individuals here," he said. "We don’t have big box stores.”

The mayor adds a new downtown will not happen overnight and could involve voter referendums regarding zoning density.

“It’s going to be gradual and it’s going to be a generational approach,” he said.

A group of high school students doing their homework at Coffee House 1420 said affordable housing and educational opportunities downtown would keep them around.

“So that we can learn more after high school, so we don’t have to go out of state for college," Hannah Dorval said.

The final public presentation will be Friday at the Vero Beach Community Center from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The planners hope to have a first draft back to the city shortly thereafter.

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VERO BEACH, Fla. — Two projects in Vero Beach called "Twin Pairs" and "Three Corners" have been discussed for years.

Big decisions are now imminent that will reshape the city for decades to come.

The Vero Beach Municipal Power Plant was shut down in 2015, but its fate could be determined in the coming months. It stands like a sleeping giant at the base of the Alma Lee Loy Bridge.

The marketing team from Colliers on Tuesday updated the Vero Beach City Council on who's interested in making what could be a $500 million investment in the "Three Corners" parcels — a 38-acre site as large as Old Town St. Augustine.

"Because of the waterfront accessibility, because of the size of the project, the scale of the project, it has attracted a lot of interest," Ken Krasnow, the vice chair of Colliers, said.

Thirty-six proposals have been forwarded so far, and Krasnow estimates about a dozen are serious in nature.

He asked and was granted by the council an additional 45 days to solicit proposals.

"We're dealing with a lot of global factors that are affecting their ability to respond in a timely fashion," Krasnow said.

As to whether the power plant would remain as part of any future use, Krasnow said so far the proposals are split on whether it stays or goes.

The city should be making a final decision in early 2024 on what will be built at the site hopefully by 2028.

Another big decision coming sooner is the "Twin Pairs" project.

The talk for decades has been about whether to reduce the number of traffic lanes on State Road 60 through downtown.

"As it stands right now, I find traffic moves just as it should, and as easily as it should, without giving me any obstacles in getting to the businesses I intend to reach," Allie Lee of Sebastian said.

The council Tuesday agreed to move forward with four final proposals, which include some compromise.

One of the proposals would eliminate one of the westbound lanes only between 14th and 16th avenues downtown to improve driver sight lines.

"It's a safety issue," Vero Beach Mayor John Cotugno said. "It will prevent accidents, and it will also enhance the landscape."

The City Council will host a special afternoon meeting Dec. 12 at 1:30 p.m. to make a final decision on "Twin Pairs."

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VERO BEACH, Fla. —

Many residents in Vero Beach were shocked when they realized their neighborhood was flooded after heavy rain swept through the Treasure Coast overnight.

"I’ve never seen it this bad," Bill Cummins, a resident at Vero Lake Estates, told WPBF 25 News. "It was shocking, we couldn’t go to work, couldn’t even get out of our road. It was like a river flowing through here."

"It’s just nuts because I’ve seen, like, flood, but I’ve never seen flooding, flooding," CJ Holmes, another resident, said.

St. Lucie, Indian River counties deal with heavy rain, flooding overnight; some roads closed

All day Friday, crews were helping cars stuck in canals, cleaning up debris, and towing cars that were broken down.

"In this neighborhood, it does tend to get flooded," Jacque Miller, a resident, said.

Towing truck companies from across the Sunshine State came to the rescue on Friday.

"We’re from Cocoa and we’re getting calls to come save cars out here like this," one crewmember said.

While many neighbors said they've gone through several hurricanes in Florida, the aftermath of Thursday's storms was nothing like they've seen before.

"We’ve been through hurricanes, and it’s never been as bad as it is right now," Warren Couch, a resident, said.

The Indian River County Emergency Services Department said garbage and recycling pickups at Vero Lake Estates and Fellsmere were suspended Friday due to weather.

If conditions improve on Saturday, crews may resume their services.

"We’ve seen another lady coming through, and I tried to tell her, ‘Stop, don’t come through,’ and she kept coming and she flipped over in a sinkhole. She’s OK, but her car is ruined," Cummins said.

Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.