Just had an earthquake in DC area

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi all

The Washington Monument (in the distance below) has a crack in it near the pinnacle and is closed to the public until further notice. The Ecuadorian Embassy suffered structural damaged with a fall of masonry, as did the tower of the Washington National Cathedral. I had a meal in the Thunder Grill in Union Station last evening and the waiter showed me that high above in the coffered ceiling of the station, there was some damage to the plasterwork. The tower of St. Patrick's Church on Broadway in Baltimore also received damage and needs repair. Our plumbing was making wierd noises this morning and I thought I saw some new cracks in the brickwork outside the front entrance of our 1920's apartment building.

Could have been much worse, obviously!

I sent an email to the admin at work today; employees were told to evacuate after the circa 1:55 pm quake though I stayed working. Most of them went across Maryland Avenue SW and waited for word. But that was the worst place for them to stand because as it happens the road at that point is built over the railway line running between Union Station and Virginia... it is in essence a bridge so could have collapsed if there had been an even worse follow-up tremor. What I advised them to tell employees was the same thing they announced a few months ago when we evacuated because of a bomb scare the nearby FCC: leave the building and walk north toward the National Mall.

Chris

[Errata]

http://jmckinley.posterous.com/dc-earthquake-devastation

our hearts go out to those in our nation's capitol.

[Steadmund Brand]

HAHHHA great post Abby... I'll cut them some slack for sure... being in Buffalo.. the blizzard capital of the world (well our last few winters have been very mild I must say) we always tell people... snow melts so we can take it... but you are right.. the wild fires and mudslides.... no thanks...

Also, I actually work in insurance and I want to tell eveyone on the east coast to get ready... this storm could get very nasty, and hit NY,NJ,DE.CT not to mention north and south carolina....fingers crossed it is *possible* that the storm misses land.. but please everyone, be safe....

Steadmund Brand

[Abby Normal]

Hi Archaic,

Thanks for the kind words.

It now looks like the worst of it is that we are getting some smart ass comments from the West Coast directed our way saying that we overreacted. Let them get a few terrorist attacks and some blizzards under their belt before they mouth off. Little punks.

c.d.

Haha.
True-but cut them some slack-along with eartrhquakes, they have to deal with the mudslides, avalanches, forest fires, and Arnold Schwartzenager.

[Abby Normal]

Well I live in D.C. and I can tell you that I felt it big time. At first it was just a noise and a vibration and I thought it was just a jet plane. But both the noise and the vibrations grew in intensity and my apartment started to shake. I ran into the closet to get away from the windows. Scared the hell out of me. Went out into the streets and there were people all about. I ended up talking to my neighbors in my apartment building which I have never done before. It makes a difference when everyone is in the same boat. They say expect a few small aftershocks but so far all's well that ends well. Let's hope it stays that way.

c.d.

Hi CD
Glad you are OK and nothing was damaged. i always used to say we live in one of the safest areas in the US (and the world) when it comes to the weather and natural disasters. We get the odd tornado and blizzard or summer thunderstorm/remnants of a hurricane. But with these earthquakes(2 in the last year), tornado warnings on a weekly basis, the ridiculous snowstorms of 2 winters ago(my house took a major beating on that one) and apparantly the hurricane headed our way (keeping my fingers crossed on that one) I am not so sure.

My father in law half jokingly says its the end of the world (2012) but my sister mentioned global warming and wondered if it might be also causing the slew of earthquakes recently-here, colorodo, the japan and indonesia earthquakes/tsunamis etc. I think it could have something to do with it-as in the whole world is heating up and causing more activity.

[c.d.]

Hi Archaic,

Thanks for the kind words.

It now looks like the worst of it is that we are getting some smart ass comments from the West Coast directed our way saying that we overreacted. Let them get a few terrorist attacks and some blizzards under their belt before they mouth off. Little punks.

c.d.

[Archaic]

Scared the hell out of me. Went out into the streets and there were people all about. I ended up talking to my neighbors in my apartment building which I have never done before. It makes a difference when everyone is in the same boat. They say expect a few small aftershocks but so far all's well that ends well. Let's hope it stays that way.

c.d.

Hi C.D. & Steadmund, glad you're alright.

C.D., that's sort of the saving grace of disasters and near-disasters, isn't it? You stop living in isolation and start talking to your neighbors.

I always go out of my way to make friends with my neighbors wherever I live, but I know in big cities people tend to get out of the habit of talking to strangers until disaster strikes, then everyone comes together.

Take care, I'm glad everyone's OK.

best regards,
Archaic

[c.d.]

Well I live in D.C. and I can tell you that I felt it big time. At first it was just a noise and a vibration and I thought it was just a jet plane. But both the noise and the vibrations grew in intensity and my apartment started to shake. I ran into the closet to get away from the windows. Scared the hell out of me. Went out into the streets and there were people all about. I ended up talking to my neighbors in my apartment building which I have never done before. It makes a difference when everyone is in the same boat. They say expect a few small aftershocks but so far all's well that ends well. Let's hope it stays that way.

c.d.

[Steadmund Brand]

I'm all the way in Buffalo NY and we felt the earthquake here...not fun.. but it was very mild here... I do hope everyone is ok where you are Abby

Steadmund Brand

[Abby Normal]

Hi Abby.

Yeah, 5.9 or 6.0 is quite large for the East Coast.

I vividly remember the 2001 Nisqually Quake in Seattle. It had a magnitude of 6.8 and shook us so hard that my huge house felt like it went for a rollercoaster ride! It was built into a hill on one side, and it felt like that hill and the ground beneath us turned to jelly- I'm amazed the house stayed on its foundation.

The Nisqually quake officially lasted for 45 seconds-1 minute, but that was the longest minute I ever experienced. Quakes usually happen so fast that they're already over by the time you realize what's happening. The Nisqually quake lasted such a long time that we were able to have an actual conversation about how long it was lasting as we braced ourselves in the hallway! I had time to think of and do so many things...strange how time can seem to expand.

Did you notice any animals acted oddly before the quake?

That phenomenon always intrigues me. My horse was noticeably restless & excited, galloping around for no reason, and my old dog was particularly clingy for a couple of days before the Nisqually quake. I noticed it and wondered, but I didn't put two and two together until the quake hit... Now I pay closer attention!

Best regards,
Archaic

Hi
This one was over in a few seconds but was more violent, clunky and shaky. last years was longer but was more of a prolongend loud vibration. It really struck me how different the two felt.

Did you notice any animals acted oddly before the quake

No, but my dog was going nuts during.


so far no aftershocks, but i tell you it really makes you realize how small you are compared to mother nature.

[Archaic]

Time Expansion & Animal Behavior

Hi Abby.

Yeah, 5.9 or 6.0 is quite large for the East Coast.

I vividly remember the 2001 Nisqually Quake in Seattle. It had a magnitude of 6.8 and shook us so hard that my huge house felt like it went for a rollercoaster ride! It was built into a hill on one side, and it felt like that hill and the ground beneath us turned to jelly- I'm amazed the house stayed on its foundation.

The Nisqually quake officially lasted for 45 seconds-1 minute, but that was the longest minute I ever experienced. Quakes usually happen so fast that they're already over by the time you realize what's happening. The Nisqually quake lasted such a long time that we were able to have an actual conversation about how long it was lasting as we braced ourselves in the hallway! I had time to think of and do so many things...strange how time can seem to expand.

Did you notice any animals acted oddly before the quake?

That phenomenon always intrigues me. My horse was noticeably restless & excited, galloping around for no reason, and my old dog was particularly clingy for a couple of days before the Nisqually quake. I noticed it and wondered, but I didn't put two and two together until the quake hit... Now I pay closer attention!

Best regards,
Archaic

[Abby Normal]

Hi Abby- gosh, it was a 5.9 in D.C.!

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/23...ashington-d-c/

yeah I heard they evacuated the Pentagon-i think they thought it was under attack again.

[Abby Normal]

Hi Abby.

I read a little while ago that one was felt in Colorado and was the biggest they'd had for a number of years- I think it was a 5.3.

Washington D.C. seems a bit far away for you to have felt the same one, but perhaps it was related?

I'm sure everything will be fine, but any small quake is a good reminder to review your emergency plans, coordinate with your family, etc.

Take care,
Archaic

Hi Archaic
We just had a quake in this area last year but it was only a 3.6-but still very spooky. Todays was a 6.o which is big for this area. Quakes are not unheard of in this area but they are very rare and usually happen like 10 years apart. As a matter of fact the one last year and todays are the only ones i can remember and I have lived hear for over 30 years.

As my father in law says, with all the freaky weather/natural disasters lately-The world is coming to an end! 2012 is just around the corner.

[Archaic]

Hi Abby- gosh, it was a 5.9 in D.C.!

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/23/quake-hits-near-washington-d-c/

[Archaic]

Hi Abby.

I read a little while ago that one was felt in Colorado and was the biggest they'd had for a number of years- I think it was a 5.3.

Washington D.C. seems a bit far away for you to have felt the same one, but perhaps it was related?

I'm sure everything will be fine, but any small quake is a good reminder to review your emergency plans, coordinate with your family, etc.

Take care,
Archaic