Earthquake strikes Virginia

[Furinkazen]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/us/24earthquake.html

Apparently the white house has gotten evacuated due to this as well according to Sky News.

 

[DGCSE]

felt it here in canada

 

[Furinkazen]

US Geological Survey Statement:

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake rattled southern Colorado Monday, August 22, at 11:46PM MDT, causing strong shaking, but minor damage, and was felt throughout the state of Colorado and neighboring states. The USGS Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system issued a Green Alert, indicating a low probability for fatalities or significant economic losses.

The earthquake occurred approximately nine miles southwest of Trinidad, Colo.

This was the largest earthquake in Colorado since a M5.3 in August, 1967 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal. The largest earthquake in Colorado history was Nov 7th, 1882, near Rocky Mountain National Park; estimates vary but it was about a Magnitude 6.5.

Yesterday's M5.3 had three detected foreshocks (M4.6, 3.0 and 2.9), and there have been many recorded aftershocks.

Citizens who felt the earthquake can go online and report their observations on the USGS Did You Feel It? Web site. Over 1,000 reports of felt shaking have already been received from more than 200 zip codes in six states.

Earthquakes cannot be predicted. This area in Colorado has a history of earthquakes, notably a swarm that occurred in 2001, with earthquake magnitudes between M2.9 and 4.6. A USGS report on those earthquakes is available at the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program website.

 

[HELLAFLUSH240SX]

How much damage?

 

[Tornado]

Apparently there is a Lyons-shaped hole in the earthquake's trail, because I felt it but it didn't seem to shake my room any more than when I put shoes in the washing machine.

 

[nk22b]

Colorado, too? A 5.9 earthquake hit Virginia a half hour ago. We felt it here in Baltimore.

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...pparent-earthquake-rocks-washington-dc-area/1

 

[Terronium-12]

Is that why my table and chair (and myself) were trembling? Albeit, very lightly.

I thought I was going crazy or was shaken up from something.

Holy crap to say the very least.

 

[CAM]

A lot of my friends called and asked if I felt it, and my house didn't shake a bit. Weird.

 

[d3uc3_dropp3r]

I felt it as well. Shaking was light but scary considering I never felt a tremor from this beautiful planet we live on. I just read some news and they said that this might be a foreshock. If it is then the worse is yet to come.

 

[Terronium-12]

Now I'm a bit shaken up.

Hopefully nothing further happens.

 

[d3uc3_dropp3r]

Now I'm a bit shaken up.

Hopefully nothing further happens.

Indeed. I hate all the tough people telling us to calm down though. It's just pretty scary because after seeing all the aftermaths of earthquakes and all over the world and experiencing your first one, it is quite an experience. Apparently our cell phones around here don't really work!!

 

[land sea air]

I work on the ground floor of an office building in DC and felt it enough to know what was going on, but by the time I had left my desk and had time to start worrying it had already stopped.

 

[photonrider]

Almost 4 miles deep at the epicenter in Mineral, Virginia, USA, the tremors were felt in downtown Toronto, Canada, where we are all gathered mourning the death of Jack Layton. No injuries reported. Police confirm no problems as yet.

 

[GoSpeedRacer]

In Central NJ, we felt the building shaking for about 15-20 seconds. The quake was centered about 80 miles SW of Washington, DC in Virginia. There is currently an issue with cell phone service being down, as I've read, and I'm also currently experiencing with AT&T. I also cannot reach my home phone, but with that being digital as well, it may be related.

It felt like someone was standing outside of my office and shaking the walls. Nothing fell off any walls or shelves and there isn't any visible damage that I can see, but everyone in the building felt it.

Wow, 5.9 Magnitude is pretty strong and the largest magnitude ever recorded in VA.

 

[mattythedog]

Hope all you Americans are alright 👍

 

[Sam48]

I felt it here in NY State. After a large jolt, I turned around to find my chandelier hanging at a slight angle like in the movie Inception. It only lasted a few seconds, but it surprised me to say the least.

 

[photonrider]

As far as the Media knows: felt in DC, NY, OH, NC, Martha's Vineyard (where President Obama is presently) and Toronto.
Nuclear reactors near epicenter have been shut down.
Slight damage at the Pentagon.

 

[KardisF1]

My monitor was swaying here in New Jersey. It was scary. So how are things near the epicenter?

EDIT: The emergency lines here were completely busy as well.

 

[Recon]

Felt it here in Harrisburg, I didnt think much of it until I go online to see its everywhere

 

[Public'sTwin]

How to calculate the loneliness of western civilization:

1. Create earthquake
2. wait
3. ????
4. Count the rate and response-time of everybody going "OMG DID U FEEL IT?"

 

[nk22b]

I've seen some ... interesting comments across the web.

One in particular: It's all George Bush's "fault"!!! Get it? FAULT!?

 

[photonrider]

Millions on the East Coast felt it. Many responded immediately by trying to contact loved ones via online communications which seem to have been disrupted in some areas. Obviously underground cable systems as well as utility pipelines could be effected. Tremors in the Greater Toronto Area were widespread.

 

[rocko100]

I didnt feel nothing, on the otherhand I was asleep in my bed...

 

[Eric Demory]

Now the Washington Monument is leaning.

 

[gogatrs]

Nothing here in southeastern Connecticut.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Weird how the east coast was hit, and then way out west Colorado gets one too?

 

[Omnis]

Obama wanted the earthquake to be a 3.6 and the Republicans wanted it to be 3.4, so they compromised and we got a 5.9.

 

[alexleighton]

How to calculate the loneliness of western civilization:

1. Create earthquake
2. wait
3. ????
4. Count the rate and response-time of everybody going "OMG DID U FEEL IT?"

Yeah really, people seriously need hobbies. I didn't feel a thing but I was sitting on my dock so I doubt I would've.

 

[Sam48]

Now the Washington Monument is leaning.

I honestly thought you were trying to be funny, and then I saw this:

 

[CodeRedR51]

Yeah really, people seriously need hobbies. I didn't feel a thing but I was sitting on my dock so I doubt I would've.

I think the reason people freak out so easily is the fact that earthquakes hardly ever happen in the USA anywhere east of California. Especially Colorado, which is where I grew up. Add to that the fact that all of these have happened back to back in the last day or two, then yeah, people are going to talk.

Edit: Holy crap at above photo...