(AP) - Authorities say a small earthquake struckan area of central New Jersey, rattling windows and alarmingresidents of several Morris County communities.

Won-Young Kim, a seismologist at the Lamont-Doherty EarthObervatory in Palisades, N.Y., said an earthquake of magnitude 3.0was recorded at 10:34 p.m. Monday, centered in the Morris Countycommunities of Rockaway, Dover and Morris Plains.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, and Kimsaid it was unlikely that a quake of that magnitude would be adamaging event. Quakes of magnitude 2.5 to 3 are the smallest thatcan generally be felt by people.

Police say the quake triggered a flood of 911 calls, withresidents reporting a sound like an explosion and houses shaking.

Kim said small earthquakes are not unusual in that area of NewJersey.