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Earthquake on East Coast

By Jeralyn, Section Off Topic
Posted on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:24:17 PM EST
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Really? An 5.9 earthquake on the east coast? How odd. Hope everyone's okay.

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake centered northwest of Richmond, Va., shook much of Washington, D.C., and was felt as far north as New York City and Rhode Island.

The quake sent hundreds of people spilling into the street a block from the White House, with other buildings evacuated in North Carolina and tremors felt as far away as New York City.

The heart of the quake apparently was Mineral, Va., in Louisa County. And I just read Colorado had an earthquake last night -- the largest one since 1967. It was in the southern part of the state, near New Mexico.

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    Earthquake on East Coast | 94 comments (94 topical)

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    I felt it (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:28:16 PM EST
    in NYC. Didn't take me long to realize what was going on.

    Here in the Philadelphia suburbs, (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Peter G on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:07:43 PM EST
    we also felt our very solid little brick building shake.  I've never experienced an earthquake in my 62 years, to my knowledge.  But I figured right away that's what it was.  Of course, you don't imagine the epicenter could be 200+ miles away.

    Parent
    I think solid = bad in an earthquake (none / 0) (#32)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:26:44 PM EST
    I'm glad to hear everyone is OK.

    OT: saw you quoted in the DN today.

    Parent

    Bricks also. (none / 0) (#34)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:30:51 PM EST


    Parent
    Yes (5.00 / 2) (#47)
    by BDB on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:04:31 PM EST
    There's a reason why there are very few, if any, brick buildings in California.  Brick tends to crumble.  Fortunately, it takes more than a 5.9 to have that effect (although I am a bit worried about my 200 year old chimney when I get home).

    Most of DC was evacuated to stand right outside the big buildings.  I guess that was so all of us could get hit by the falling marble facades if there were any aftershocks.  :-)

    Seriously, not that big a quake and that's a good thing because from what I've seen, unsurprisingly, there's no plans for dealing with them.  Although it does amuse me that the WaPo covers this on its weather page.  

    Parent

    here is the email from my coworker (5.00 / 4) (#59)
    by CST on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:17:39 PM EST
    (from the bay area)

    Subject line: EARTHQUAKE!

    "Or if you're from California: Tuesday."

    "And next time, don't head for outside.  Head for the nearest doorway or dive under your desk.  Rookies"

    Parent

    Good advice (none / 0) (#98)
    by jbindc on Wed Aug 24, 2011 at 08:41:37 AM EST
    Unless, of course, you're a city where a terrorist attack has taken place once already and the best course of action in that case is to exit the building.  :)

    Parent
    Yup (none / 0) (#49)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:07:33 PM EST
    Personally, it would have taken some prompting to get me to go outside.

    I figure if it really got bad I'd go sit in the stairwell or something. My building is modern steel construction, and that seems reasonably safe for an earthquake.

    Parent

    Stairwells are a good place to be (5.00 / 2) (#60)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:18:12 PM EST
    especially in newer buildings. Plus, since 9/11, I think they really keep up the emerg functions of the buildings (emerg lighting/etc)

    Where I lived in Brooklyn, out in the street would have been kinda 'okay', but the places I worked in Manhattan, not so much! Your newer building is prob one of the safer ones, but I have to wonder how much quake thought went into it. Not too long ago there was a news piece here about a new hospital and the new structure thingies (for lack of correct terms!) they were using for earthquakes and how far the building could shift and roll (literally!). Pretty interesting stuff. Also have seen news pieces on the retro fitting of the Bay Bridge, again, interesting stuff.

    Parent

    There is a plan (none / 0) (#85)
    by koshembos on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 05:56:19 PM EST
    The Metro, our hilariously expensive subway, press the panic button as planned. Trains started to move 15 mi/hr and the system immediately clogged up.

    Parent
    Felt it here in Jersey city (5.00 / 2) (#54)
    by vml68 on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:12:30 PM EST
    I was standing in the kitchen trying to decide what I wanted for lunch and my first thought was...I must be dizzy. Then I realized that my whole apartment was moving. I ran to the bedroom to check on my dogs and they were both standing absolutely still. Looked out the window and the people outside did not seem to have noticed anything, made me wonder if I had imagined the whole thing.

    Parent
    I checked my pulse (5.00 / 2) (#62)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:26:21 PM EST
    So you're not alone in having wondered about whether it was a health event.

    Parent
    Didn't (none / 0) (#12)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:42:23 PM EST
    But I'm pretty oblivious about these things.


    Parent
    I wasn't entirely sure of myself (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:45:17 PM EST
    but it was more of a wobble than a rumble, so I was pretty sure it wasn't just a truck or construction.

    Parent
    Here in Brooklyn .... (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:55:45 PM EST
    very evident.  Stuff on tables shaking and so on.  But people I talked to in Chelsea didn't feel it at all.

    Parent
    Daughter Zorba (5.00 / 2) (#33)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:29:15 PM EST
    called from Manhattan- they felt it, and some people evacuated the building, but it was over so quickly, most people stayed put.

    Parent
    It was felt all across the Midwest (none / 0) (#35)
    by Towanda on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:31:58 PM EST
    and registered quite clearly on the equipment at Northern Illinois University and other sites.  

    Some buildings evacuated in Chicago and other cities, too.

    Parent

    Felt in Chicago? (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by caseyOR on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:59:22 PM EST
    A quake centered in N.Virginia makes enough of a stir in Chicago that buildings are evacuated, huh? That is a very large area to be affected, especially by a medium-sized quake.

    While the small-medium rumblings no longer incite the beginnings of panic in me, 34 years on the west coast has cured me of that, I remain very respectful of the power of earthquakes. I can well imagine how unnerving it must have been for all of you easterners and, surprisingly, midwesterners, for whom this is a very rare occurrence.

    It is good to know that, nerves aside, all of you are okay.

    Parent

    Particularly the nerves (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:56:52 PM EST
    of the folks in NYC and those in the Pentagon, especially coming up on the 9/11 10th anniversary.


    Parent
    Actually, we often have small quakes (none / 0) (#70)
    by Towanda on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 04:29:05 PM EST
    in the Midwest, owing to the New Madrid fault centered in Illinois -- and we are told that it is 'WAY overdue to give us a big one again, on the order of what is thought to have been the worst quake ever in North America.

    But that was in the early 1800s, when only a few Eastern squatters (see: settlers in American history books) had started heading west to the Midwest, so there were few reports of it in the press then.  However, there were a few survivors who left records -- and there were a lot of French Canadians and Metis, so I have seen some translations of their letters about it as well.

    That there are so few accounts, though, mainly is attributed to how incredibly devastating the quake is thought to have been -- leaving few survivors.

    Parent

    I am familiar with midwest earthquakes. (none / 0) (#87)
    by caseyOR on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 06:11:44 PM EST
    The first quake of my life occurred in November 1968. It was a 5.4 quake that was connected to the New Madrid Fault. I was 16, and living in central Illinois. Everything in the house started shaking and moving around. I had never experienced anything like it before, and it took me a minute to figure out what was happening.

    When the San Francisco quake hit in 1989 the news media was filled for days with stories about earthquakes and liquefaction and the dangers of skyscrapers built with walls of glass.

    Two point stuck in my memory. One was the estimate that a bigger quake in SF would result in up to 5 feet of glass filling the streets of the financial district. The second was the discussion of liquefaction and how it would play out in the midwest should the New Madrid fault let go with a big one. I remember a map showing where major landmarks, among them the Memphis, TN airport, would be simply sucked into the vortex of liquifying earth.

    So glad that didn't happen today. Imagine the Capitol or the Pentagon sucked into the swirling vortex. :-)

    Parent

    Was typing a comment here (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by jbindc on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:36:18 PM EST
    When my desk started shaking and my computer started moving.  Never been in an earthquake before - cross something else off my list, I guess. :)

    Tons of people standing on packed sidewalks all up and down 18th Street here in DC.  Very surreal.

    We California folk (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by kmblue on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:47:11 PM EST
    shrug at earthquakes.  Sorry you all were shaken, though. ;)

    I remember that one (none / 0) (#86)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 05:56:59 PM EST
    got me out of bed and into my parents room pretty quick. We lived northeast of LA at the time. That was my first 'earthquake got the better of me' scare and the second was the norcal one in '89(?).

    I did check fault lines before I moved back :)

    Parent

    Yawn. 5.3 5.9 Puhleeze, people. (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by oldpro on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:51:48 PM EST
    Move along...nothing to see here...

    The best ... (5.00 / 7) (#20)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:02:00 PM EST
    visual comment from a Facebook friend here.

    Parent
    LOL....verrrry funny! n/t (5.00 / 2) (#65)
    by oldpro on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:53:00 PM EST


    Parent
    Too funny (5.00 / 2) (#71)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 04:30:10 PM EST


    Parent
    nothing to see here (none / 0) (#26)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:12:38 PM EST

    Don't be silly.  This is very important.  In about 10 days we will be told that this quake is in part responsible for the bad economy.  Along with George Bush of course.

    Parent
    You're right (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by CST on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:18:42 PM EST
    The earthquake has nothing to do with the bad economy.

    As for the rest, "part" doesn't even begin to describe Bush's role.

    That doesn't mean Obama's not on the hook for how he's handling it, but I am not gonna sit back and let someone pretend like this isn't Bush's fault to begin with when it so obviously was.

    Parent

    Great News (none / 0) (#63)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:42:43 PM EST
    I'm really glad god stopped his Campaign of Terror on America for allowing gay people to live.

    And finally... a republican acknowledging that Bush is responsible for anything, even if it an impossibility can only mean one thing....

    Congratulations, acceptance is the last stage of grief.  It's been one hell of a ride, you guys were stuck in denial & anger so long, I wasn't sure if you were going to pull out it.

    Parent

    Just told my husband as he walked (5.00 / 3) (#21)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:03:39 PM EST
    in the door that a quake shook D.C.  He said, "God finally smote them, he said phuck it....I've had enough"

    Cheers for the use of ... (5.00 / 3) (#23)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:07:13 PM EST
    the word "smote".  Bet that's a TL first.

    Parent
    You know whose fault this is, don't you? (none / 0) (#22)
    by jbindc on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:07:12 PM EST
    The gays and abortionists.  Not to mention pagans.

    Parent
    Your husband does some (none / 0) (#40)
    by MO Blue on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:42:12 PM EST
    great one liners. What a hoot.

    Parent
    Remember that post that BTD had up (none / 0) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:54:25 PM EST
    about "the dozens"?  Some circles in the military have Joe Mama Fridays, every Friday it is time to use all the self expression and originality you possess and deface the image of each others mothers.  I think he gets lots of practice.

    Parent
    i was at my desk, on the 9th floor, (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by cpinva on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:09:05 PM EST
    in downtown richmond. quite entertaining, and a bit scary. every building in richmond was evaced. per the USGS website, it was a 6.0, with tremors down to charlotte and up the NY. second one for me, first was in norfolk, in the 70's. very weird.

    Scared the stuffing out of me! (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Joan in VA on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:15:58 PM EST
    I'm about 25 miles from the epicenter. My first thought was that one of the military helicopters that comes through here decided to land on my roof as it sounded like very loud rotors, and then that some heavy equipment I can hear nearby today hit a gas line as it felt like one might imagine an underground explosion feeling. I have only experienced one little tremor in my entire life spent in VA so an earthquake just didn't occur to me. I was watching what was going on in Libya on CNN and they immediately went to the earthquake so, at least, I knew what it actually was pretty quickly.

    Hope everyone is okay (none / 0) (#28)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:17:19 PM EST
    where you are

    Parent
    Rare, but not unexpected (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by fuzzyone on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:18:13 PM EST
    I grew up on the east coast but live in Oakland now.  I have a good friend who works for the USGS who told me that while large quakes on the east coast are rare, they know from the geology that they happen.  A large quake in someplace like NYC would be devastating because the buildings, especially the older brick buildings, are not built for it and will fail catastrophically.  Of course that quake might not happen for 1000 years, or it could happen next week.

    Damage to National Cathedral in D.C. (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Towanda on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:34:52 PM EST
    is reported, so probably to other buildings, too.

    Minor damage such as pinnacles cracking and falling -- but let's hope that no bricks and stones and such fell on pedestrians below.

    Never experienced anything like that (5.00 / 3) (#39)
    by Anne on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:38:20 PM EST
    until today - and if I never experience it again, it will be too soon.

    Was sitting in my 9th floor office, which is in downtown Baltimore, when the first tremor occurred; I actually thought at first that it was construction-related, something being done in the building.

    When the second one came, it was much stronger - and seriously, the worst things go through your mind.

    We just left the building, via the stairs - along with everyone else, were outside for about a half-hour and then they let us back in.  Really just wanted to get the hell out of town, but decided to come back upstairs.

    I did NOT like that AT ALL.  Now just hearing sirens everywhere - makes me wonder about the city's ancient water pipes, if there might not have been some water main ruptures, etc.

    Am hoping for no aftershocks.

    Same kinda thing here (5.00 / 2) (#41)
    by jbindc on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:43:16 PM EST
    Apparently traffic is already bad getting out of the city.  Thank goodness it's summer and Congress is in recess (which means half the town is on vacation), otherwise traffic would REALLY be bad.

    Parent
    At least the weather is basically perfect (none / 0) (#43)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:53:15 PM EST
    (in NYC, anyway).

    Pollen count is pretty nasty, though.

    Parent

    I wish I could have enjoyed it more! (none / 0) (#48)
    by Anne on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:06:50 PM EST
    The weather, that is, lol.

    There have been some structural collapses - the west wall of a building to the east of downtown, part of a school building in Anne Arundel County - not sure where, exactly.

    It is being reported that the deeper into the earth the origination point is, the less likely aftershocks are, so maybe we have that going for us.

    Jeez, between the  increasingly stronger Hurricane Irene, and now this, I'm starting to feel like "2012" is arriving ahead of schedule!

    Parent

    I feel the sudden urge to but a lotto ticket ;-) (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:08:44 PM EST
    (For the record, there's no way I'm doing that).

    Parent
    I was in my car (none / 0) (#82)
    by sj on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 05:48:14 PM EST
    pulling into a parking lot and I wondered if it was a parking deck with moving vehicles.  Looked around and was just a little puzzled to realize that not only was it on "solid" ground, but no one was around to bump into the car.  I was still in my car for the second tremor and didn't get it then either.  Not until I was heading in to Panera's and wide-eyed people came rushing out.  

    I guess buildings don't have shock absorbers like a car...

    Parent

    I love all the news reports right now (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by CST on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:00:03 PM EST
    "quake was felt in D.C., and as far away as NYC, Philadelphia, and Martha's Vineyard, where the president is currently on vacation"

    That's the only reason you will ever see "Martha's Vineyard" in a sentance with NYC and Philadelphia.

    Nuclear power plants in Eric Cantor's (5.00 / 2) (#50)
    by caseyOR on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:07:37 PM EST
    district have lost primary power and are operating on back-up generators. As Marcy Wheeler points out, maybe cutting the USGS budget is not such a smart move.

    Floods, earthquakes, locusts next? (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by rennies on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:08:41 PM EST


    Rapture I hope (5.00 / 2) (#55)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:13:25 PM EST
    Then I won't even have to unfriend anyone who grates on my last nerve on Facebook.

    Parent
    Wow, glad you are all OK! (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:13:48 PM EST
    Nothing like a little excitement.

    Wow for those who have never (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:24:05 PM EST
    felt one.

    Kinda reminds you that man is not really in charge.

    And many people don't realize that the New Madrid fault is about 75 miles north of Memphis and is expected to do major damage someday.

    Last time it acted up it formed the Reelfoot Lake in what is NE Tennessee.... The Mississippi river flowed backwards for two days as the lake was filled. Salt water came up to Natchez, MS.

    Wonder if today was a precursor of that.

    Missouri is on the (none / 0) (#64)
    by MO Blue on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:48:31 PM EST
    New Madrid fault line also. We had a small quake (4.2) which occurred around 3 o'clock in the morning in  June.  

    Parent
    I rode it out on the john (5.00 / 2) (#69)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 04:16:42 PM EST
    at work. Was a little puzzled at first as to what was happening.

    Rode it out....on the john? (5.00 / 1) (#73)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 04:31:18 PM EST


    Parent
    Thanks for the laugh.. :-)! (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by vml68 on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 05:13:51 PM EST


    Parent
    1st quake for me, too (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by chrisvee on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 05:03:13 PM EST
    I was sitting in my office in Philly when the floor began to shake.  At first I wondered if it was a chopper or some type of military vehicle when I realized that was ridiculous - it was an earthquake!  So I left my office (two walls of floor to ceiling windows didn't seem like the best place to be) and we all huddled together in the center of the floor. No point rushing out of the building when you're 50 stories up.   We could feel the building sway.  It was quite disconcerting.  No damage or injuries, thankfully.

    reflecting Andgarden's no-doubt-correct (none / 0) (#81)
    by Peter G on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 05:39:24 PM EST
    comment on my "sold, brick" building (not being good in an earthquake)@32, the fact that your office tower swayed a little probably means it did exactly what it was well designed and did what it was supposed to do - absorb the stress without damage.

    Parent
    Exactly (none / 0) (#83)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 05:49:20 PM EST
    If I had to pick a place to be during an earthquake, it would probably be in the middle of a skyscraper.

    Parent
    We reminded ourselves (none / 0) (#84)
    by chrisvee on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 05:53:41 PM EST
    that swaying was probably a good thing.  Since I work for an insurance company, I managed to absorb some lessons about earthquake construction!

    Parent
    I lived a lot of years in California (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by Democratic Cat on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 09:08:27 PM EST
    But I'm in DC now and this one scared me. For all the pooh-poohing of people's reactions, remember that when you're in the middle of the shaking, you don't know if it's going to stop after the first ten seconds or go on for a while. Easy to look back and say "5.9, meh." But while it's happening, you don't know it's a 5 or an 8 that's just getting started.

    If we are going to start having earthquakes in DC, I propose that we also import California's weather.

    felt it in Boston (none / 0) (#2)
    by CST on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:29:27 PM EST
    which is north of RI.

    Very weird.

    Someone on the news said (none / 0) (#4)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:33:27 PM EST
    it was because it was a shallow quake.

    Parent
    some random comment on cnn (none / 0) (#11)
    by CST on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:38:49 PM EST
    said the east coast geology is built for more widespread quakes than the west coast.

    Take that with the enormous grain of salt it deserves.

    Parent

    "Tis true, though (none / 0) (#36)
    by Towanda on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:32:56 PM EST
    -- see above comment re quake registering in Illinois, felt across much of the Midwest, etc.

    Parent
    Chad Meyers I think it was (none / 0) (#67)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 04:00:34 PM EST
    pointed out that much of the east coast is on one big, uninterrupted slab, so a small quake gets felt all along the slab.  All those faults and cracks in Cali mean the quake effects get dissipated fairly rapidly as they move out from the epicenter.

    I've always read that the east coast and particularly the northeast would be practically wiped out if there was ever a major quake because of that slab we're all on, and of course, the fact that buildings weren't made to withstand one.


    Parent

    yea (none / 0) (#68)
    by CST on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 04:05:19 PM EST
    I didn't doubt the commenter on CNN, or I wouldn't have posted it, just thought I should clarify that my source was suspect.

    The back bay is a bunch of old brick buildings built on landfill, which are sinking anyway.  It would be a nightmare.

    Parent

    My friends (none / 0) (#3)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:31:15 PM EST
    on facebook are all about this and then the hurricane.

    I don't think the tremors made it down as far as GA.

    I think we're about equidistant (none / 0) (#6)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:34:08 PM EST
    Maybe it was directed north?

    Parent
    Seems (none / 0) (#31)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:22:24 PM EST
    that way going by unscientific study of facebook. The people in VA and north all said they felt it but it was sporadic below VA with some people here in GA saying they felt it an one or two in SC.

    Parent
    Now what will people living (none / 0) (#5)
    by oculus on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:34:07 PM EST
    On East Coast and in CO proffer as why they would never, ever live in CA?  
    our post-Proposition 13 public school system? (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by The Addams Family on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:35:52 PM EST


    Parent
    Seasons? (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:48:54 PM EST
    (Actually, no, never mind).

    Parent
    5.9 (none / 0) (#7)
    by CST on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:35:16 PM EST


    Parent
    why they would never, ever live in CA (none / 0) (#10)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:38:48 PM EST

    How about high taxes and high unemployment.

    Parent
    Why move (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:49:56 PM EST
    to CA for that when we in GA have it right now. Or better yet, go to SC. They're almost up there with CA in UE numbers and most of their jobs pay minimum wage.

    Parent
    Oh, please ... (none / 0) (#100)
    by Yman on Wed Aug 24, 2011 at 09:29:29 PM EST
    The high unemployment is a relatively new/short-term development for California, unlike many of the low tax states that you conservatives love, and taxes in California are lower than in many NE states.

    Parent
    e-mail report from sister in Ohio (none / 0) (#17)
    by The Addams Family on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 01:50:34 PM EST
    queke felt there too

    You'll know you are "at risk" (none / 0) (#38)
    by oculus on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:36:34 PM EST
    when your friends and relatives who live in other areas of the U.S. contact you whenever national TV news reports an earthquake or wildfire in your state.

    Yes, we have family emails circling (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by Towanda on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 06:17:52 PM EST
    from the West Coasters to the Washington, D.C.'ers, with many others of us in between.

    A sister-in-law is in Baltimore on a business trip far from here home . . . in California, where she has been through all together too many quakes already.  She is being blamed by business associates, she reports, for bringing the quake with her, across the country from her West Coast.

    And the emails are about to go international, as she actually is from Europe, and other relatives are from yet other continents.  Their families back home wonder how in the world we survive this land of quakes and other worries.  (Interesting that the phenomenon that folks from afar seem to find most fearsome is Midwestern tornadoes.  Some have come from afar to visit, only to spend hours in basements, while attempting to understand the difference between "watches" and "warnings.")  

    Parent

    I don't think I've felt a noticable shake (none / 0) (#42)
    by nycstray on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 02:51:38 PM EST
    since I've been back, even though they happen all the time. Couple of times, maybe a bit of a rumble, but couldn't be sure. Now that I've said that . . . lol!~

    Parent
    Delayed Aftershock (none / 0) (#58)
    by SOS on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 03:17:37 PM EST
    when the Lawmakers left town went on Vacation.

    I was in (none / 0) (#72)
    by Makarov on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 04:30:32 PM EST
    a state park, about 140 miles from the epicenter, along the appalachian trail when the quake hit. We didn't feel a thing.

    My brother, 10 miles away at work, reported his building shook a little.

    The (none / 0) (#74)
    by lentinel on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 04:59:34 PM EST
    quake was about 100 miles from two nuclear plants.

    They took them off line.

    And they quickly removed the fuel rods and put them in a closet.

    I feel real safe.

    CNN interesting data about quake (none / 0) (#76)
    by MO Blue on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 05:08:41 PM EST
    Updated 2:47 p.m. ET: A "considerable amount" of water from a water pipe has flooded two corridors of the Pentagon, according to an announcement in the building. People who work in those areas are being asked to stay in their offices while workers try to repair the damage.

    The National Cathedral in Washington is damaged, CNN has confirmed.

    And Dominion Generation, which operates the North Anna nuclear power station in central Virginia a few miles from the epicenter of the earthquake, is trying to reach operational staff at the plant, according to a company spokesman. Landlines to the plant appear to be down.

    Shortly after the quake struck, traders in the New York Stock Exchange also felt the quake and shouted to each other, "Keep trading!" CNN's business correspondent Alison Kosik reported from the floor at 2:20 p.m. E.T. link
    Not "keep creating jobs!" hmmmm? (5.00 / 0) (#89)
    by Towanda on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 06:20:08 PM EST
    The Streeters need lessons in the mantra that the rest of us constantly have to hear is the reason for their existence.

    Parent
    And here I am back home... (none / 0) (#90)
    by Dadler on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 06:50:55 PM EST
    ...sitting right on top, and I mean smack on top, of the San Andreas Fault.  Having grown up in SoCal and felt my share of shakers, my sympathies to all.  When the earth starts moving under your feet, there's nowhere to run, a very unsettling sensation, and SoCal upbringing or no, you never get used to it.

    Here's hoping my new home doesn't spring a bigger one on me.

    Peace to all affected.

    weird (none / 0) (#93)
    by Lil on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 09:44:09 PM EST
    Three people in my office. 2 of us felt it immediately for about 30 seconds and then it stopped briefly and started again for another 30 seconds. The third person claims she didn't feel anything. Then everyone else started yelling. Teaneck NJ. I called a lot of people in my county and about half said they experienced it and the other half said they didn't even know about it. One woman was walking her dog and felt nothing and then gets home to find all her pictures knocked around. glad no one was hurt, so far.
    also weird (none / 0) (#94)
    by Lil on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 09:46:41 PM EST
    that Co. had one yesterday. Anyone know about aftershocks? I seem to remember years ago someone saying aftershocks could be just as dangerous, but I don't know if that's true.

    Parent
    I felt it at home but my husband (none / 0) (#95)
    by vml68 on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 09:55:35 PM EST
    who was in Hoboken and walking to a restaurant did not feel anything. When people started running out of the buildings, he had no idea what was going on.


    Parent
    I've been through low-level quakes (none / 0) (#96)
    by Towanda on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 10:46:25 PM EST
    (low-level, luckily, compared to the Californai big ones) like this several times and only have felt them when in buildings, at least a few stories up.  I never will forget the first one that I felt, when at work in a fifth-story plant.  That was an unsettling and quite queasy feeling.

    But I've worked through others when on a ground floor or outdoors.  And I've slept through a few when in a second-story bedroom.  Also depends upon how far you are from the quake -- and, it seems, on underground factors.  Some parts of my area are quite solid, while others are darn shaky shale.

    So reports today are interesting in my area, far from D.C., but some folks in tall buildings freaked and evacuated their offices, while others say they felt nothing only a few blocks away.

    Parent

    whoa! (none / 0) (#97)
    by The Addams Family on Wed Aug 24, 2011 at 01:44:10 AM EST
    just had a sharp two-thump jolt in the Bay Area

    3.9 but only half a mile deep

    I would be interested in knowing if there was (none / 0) (#99)
    by lawyerjim on Wed Aug 24, 2011 at 08:25:05 PM EST
    Fracking in the area.

    Earthquake on East Coast | 94 comments (94 topical)

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