An earthquake (5.9, preliminary magnitude) was felt up and down the U.S. east coast moments ago. It’s being reported that the epicenter was Mineral, Virginia and the quake was 3.7 miles deep.
Many federal buildings, including the Pentagon, have been evacuated in Washington, DC. According to The Associated Press, “Obama and many of the nation’s leaders were out of town on August vacation when the quake struck at 1:51 p.m. EDT. The shaking was felt on the Martha’s Vineyard golf course as Obama was just starting a round.”
Some buildings in NYC have also reportedly been evacuated.
We felt it up here in our palatial summer headquarters in Saratoga Springs, NY. Reminded us of any random month in Cali (but a bit stronger than average). No damage here, besides our Operation and Jenga games which will have to be restarted.
In influx of voice and data users following the quake has temporarily disrupted cellphone and landline service on AT&T, Verizon, and other carriers.
Interestingly, another quake (related?) with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3 and centered about nine miles from the city of Trinidad, Colorado hit at 11:46pm local time yesterday on Monday, August 22, 2011. It was felt as far away as Greeley, CO about 350 miles north, and into Kansas and New Mexico.
Did you feel either quake? Where were you? Any damage?
Felt a wave in central Ohio.
In VA near the coast line, 120 miles to the east of the epicenter, and I missed it!
Know when you stick your tongue on a 9 volt battery and get that little electric tingly buzz… that little tingly buzz was all I felt going up my feet and lower legs. I thought some heavy trucks were rumbling down the street and I looked out the window in search of them. Nothing but the sound of a bunch of dogs barking and saw a couple of cats having that ‘spooked’ look.
Oh well, time to get ready for the hurricane party this Saturday! Who’s coming? ; )
Be safe everyone.
I’m in Northern Virginia, 20 miles west of DC. My house is on solid rock, so the effects would be magnified.
The earthquake started by rumbling and vibrating, then it slowly got louder and stronger right up to the point of being scary. Then it very slowly tapered off. I don’t believe the reports that it only lasted 30 seconds, because I am not the Flash. I had enough time to come downstairs, look out the window to see if there was a big truck, go to the den, wonder what was going on, go into the kitchen to investigate the rattling, and then go back to the den. My dog had plenty of time to slink up the stairs to the place where she hides from thunderstorms. It never occurred to me to leave the house, because I didn’t know it was an earthquake until a friend in Oregon sent me a text that it was.
It had one positive effect: standing on the floor in my socks was like standing on a foot vibrator.
Nothing fell, nothing broke, nothing moved. I checked to see if any drywall nails were sticking out. There might be damage to my basement floor.
Ken, be thankful that you are on solid rock. It is much safer than sandy soil, fill or anything having to do with liquefaction. If your home was in such soil, it would be far less pleasant.
I should know. I live in Southern California.
What makes things worse for those of you who felt the quake is that few structures along the east coast are reinforced for seismic events. A 5.3 is unpleasant and an eye-opener, but typically not threatening.
My best of everyone back there. It’s nature’s way of reminding us who’s boss. And it ain’t us.
Evacuating the Pentagon under these circumstances is not alarming. The Pentagon was built hastily in World War 2 without regard to building codes. It’s pretty flimsily. There is construction going on to rebuild the Pentagon piece by piece. The end result will be a total replacement.
5.9?
We hardly even wake up for a 5.9 here in Cali…
But… really glad you’re all ok.
Rocked our world out on the tip of Cape Cod! Long period waves, rolling.
Might have to do with our place being on top of very sandy soil on a high hill.
Welcome to our world. Fun, yes?
Sincerely,
The US West Coast
Philly.
In a hospital.
2nd floor.
Felt it.
No damage.
4th earthquake I’ve been in – none in Cali.
I live 19 miles from the epicenter. Pretty nerve wracking but other than some stuff falling off of shelves, I haven’t seen any local damage.
At the U.S. Capitol, at 3rd & D street, damage unknown but definite. Working to get in.
I want that iPhone Earthquake detector the Japanese have.
YAWN! From southern California..
Fort Collins, CO
North and mostly west of Greeley.
Nothing here.
I felt it here.. McMurdo Station, Antartica.
Regards….
Methinks someone at “The Station” would know how to spell Antarctica.
So I lived in Japan for awhile…and have experienced earthquakes…Today, in my office just outside DC in Arlington Virginia, we felt the quake and we felt it good. I laughed for about 5 seconds and quickly stopped laughing. Glad to know everyone is safe though!
2012?
I thought that was Nicolas Cage…..
It must be the preparations done for the landing of the mothership in Cupertino that could have triggered shock waves throughout its vicinity.
I’m in Tripoli, Libya and I’ve been feeling it all day long. My whole compound was shaking! My whole regime collapsed!
Still looking for how this relates to Apple? Are we saying that the iPhone 5 caused the Earth to move?
According to what you haven’t said we came ‘that close’ to losing Virginia. It seems there were cascading failures at the North Anna Nuke plant where three out of four different backup cooling systems failed. If the last one went down the fuel rods would have been uncovered and the USA would have had their own version of Fukushima.
ABC TV News
NRC DOC PDF format on N Anna
http://goo.gl/SPt3B
on page 18 of the NRC Anna PDF lists problems they would have in the event of the quake.
The fourth N Anna backup plan relied on 4 generators to provide emergency power and one of those FAiLED too.
A fifth generator was quickly located and brought to the plant to strengthen the last and only option left for cooling the N Anna reactors.