The most powerful earthquake to strike the east coast in 67 years occurred on Tuesday at 1:15PM, registering a whopping 5.8 on the Richter Scale and overturning lawn furniture from South Carolina to Maine. In Washington D, the White House, Pentagon, and Capitol were evacuated. In California, residents had a good chuckle at the East Coast’s expense.
The National Cathedral in DC suffered damage to three of its four spires, and the Washington Monument was shut down indefinitely after cracks were discovered in the structure following the quake, which was centered 40 miles northwest of Richmond, VA.
The quake came just shy of three weeks from the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, prompting some to wonder if the shaking was part of something more sinister. In lower Manhattan, the 26-story federal courthouse, blocks from ground zero of the Sept. 11 attacks, began swaying, and hundreds of people streamed out of the building.
The Park Service closed all monuments and memorials on the National Mall, and ceiling tiles fell at Reagan National Airport outside Washington. All flights there were put on hold.
The quake was felt as far south as Charleston SC and as far north as Bangor MN. Even President Barack Obama felt the quake as he prepared for a round of golf on his vacation stay in Martha’s Vineyard.
By West Coast standards, where earthquakes are much more common, the East Coast quake was a walk in the park. Since 1900, there have been 40 quakes of magnitude 5.8 or greater in California alone. There have been 43 of magnitude 6 of greater.
Earthquakes in the east may be far rarer, but they do tend to be felt over a much broader geographic area.
"The waves are able to reverberate and travel pretty happily out for miles," said U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Susan Hough.
The earthquake caused a stir online, where people posted to Facebook and Twitter within seconds and described what they had felt. The keywords in posts, or hash tags, included "DCquake," ''VAquake" and "Columbusquake," an indication of how broadly the quake was experienced. Religious groups used the quake as an opportunity to warn about the impending end times.
Sarah Atkinson, a manager for a marketing firm in San Jose, was unimpressed by all the excitement.
"5.8? That's what us Californians use to stir our coffee with," she tweeted.
Aftershocks measuring 2.8 and 2.2 respectively were felt in the hours immediately following the quake, but no additional damage or injuries were reported.
No matter where they occur, earthquakes can cause issues with homes, businesses, or other structures.
Following a quake, it is advisable to thoroughly inspect your property for cracks, leaks, or any other damage.
Obviously, water leaks are a concern, and if found, they should be cleaned up and repaired as soon as possible. Water damage will not repair itself on its own, and will only get worse over time. Everything must be completely dried out, cleaned, and disinfected in order to prevent more serious, long term problems from occurring.
Water Damage Local.com is available 24/7 to handle all of your water damage, flood damage, and yes, even earthquake damage needs (well, at least as far as the earthquake pertains to water!). Call them today for a free estimate or phone consultation.
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