East coast earthquake [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

ny biker

08-23-2011, 12:18 PM

No damage around me in Arlington VA, as far as I can tell. I was on the 9th floor of an office building when it happened -- lots of shaking, I stood in an office doorway until it stopped, then the fire alarm went off and we all evacuated. After a while they let us back in.

My neighbor says some stuff fell off her shelves at home, which is a few miles from here.

I have heard about a burst water main at the Pentagon, a partial roof collapse at a Best Buy in DC, and structural damage to a garage at National Harbor in Maryland. Also damage to the National Cathedral in DC. But I have seen no details about any of this, so take it with a grain of salt.

My cousin lives in Louisa, VA, very near the epicenter, and works near Richmond. I've texted his mother (in NY) and sent a facebook message to his sister (also in NY) but haven't heard anything back yet. Hopefully everything is okay. I don't have his phone number to try to contact him. He is a prison warden so if he was at work they probably went on lockdown or something like that.

BTW, twitter is THE source for breaking news. By the time we had gotten outside our building, I was seeing news about the earthquake.

Sardine

08-23-2011, 12:21 PM

Just picked this up in our news which is saying that there are no immediate reports of injuries. I hope you are all safe and that there isn't too much damage or disruption as a result.

Trek420

08-23-2011, 12:36 PM

BTW, twitter is THE source for breaking news. By the time we had gotten outside our building, I was seeing news about the earthquake.

That's because you're not used to going here 1st :)

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/

Trek ~ livin on the fault line ~ 420

ny biker

08-23-2011, 01:30 PM

That's because you're not used to going here 1st :)

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/

Trek ~ livin on the fault line ~ 420

Yeah, but that won't tell you that Metro is running all trains at 15 mph and the Federal Government is allowing people to leave early...

I hope Tulip is okay down in Richmond...

withm

08-23-2011, 02:01 PM

And if earthquakes aren't enough fun, this weekend we get a hurricane! I hope we don't have our own personal version of Japan.

Making my hurricane list now. :(

tulip

08-23-2011, 02:11 PM

It was seriously scary. I'm sure a 5.9 is nothing to you west coasters, but I've never experienced an earthquake before and I was really bewildered, amused, and terrified all together.

I was working on a complex project, very in the moment and focused. I heard what I thought was my dog scratching his ear and thereby thumping the floor with his foot. But I turned around because it got louder, and my dog was not there. He was outside, although he rarely goes outside unless he has something to bark at. Interesting.

It got louder and things started falling off my bookcase. I started running around like a chicken--back door, get dog, get leash, outside, wait, get phone, back outside. I ran into the street because that's what they do on TV. Thats all i know about earthquakes--tv. My house was really shaking and there was a rumbling noise that got louder.

All the dogs in the neighborhood were barking. On the street, I was the only person! To be fair, most people were at work. My neighbor came out and asked what the heck was that? Then my phone started ringing. It lasted probably 20-30 seconds. Very impressive!

Everything here is made of brick. I'm sure there must be damage to the brick buildings. Tomorrow we will know more.

SlowButSteady

08-23-2011, 03:30 PM

We felt it here in SC. Nothing scary about it. People running around all giddy like they do down here when it snows.

I work in an animal hospital and none of the dogs or cats seemed to notice, got uptight, quieter or noisier than usual or anything.

jobob

08-23-2011, 03:41 PM

Blueberry

08-23-2011, 04:18 PM

So glad you're OK Tulip!

I was seriously scared, and ours wasn't anywhere near yours.

Of course, I was at the Ob/Gyn for my annual. Undressed. Waiting for the doc. When it hit. On the 4th floor.:eek::eek::eek: Not ideal. Couldn't decide whether I would need to get dressed before evacuating - but then it was over - thankfully!

Crankin

08-23-2011, 04:33 PM

I didn't feel it at all, although some buildings in Boston were evacuated.
Getting a little worried about the hurricane...

shootingstar

08-23-2011, 04:49 PM

Hurricane...what speed of winds??

There was an unusual tornado northwest of Toronto, 2 days ago by Lake Huron. Very atypical. I'm still waiting to hear from a good friend.

smilingcat

08-23-2011, 04:54 PM

5.9 is pretty darn big. It's not an every day kind of thing either on the west coast.
Scary just thinking about it.

ny biker

08-23-2011, 05:14 PM

Ok, Blueberry has the best story. :eek:

I knew what it was because I was awakened by a quake once while visiting my brother in LA. He was the one who told me about standing in a doorway because it's more structurally sound.

I saw a website earlier today with info on what to do during and after a quake. I'll look for it and post it here.

P.s. as of this morning, they expected the hurricane to reach category 4. Haven't heard details since then.

HillSlugger

08-23-2011, 05:24 PM

It was unusual...and kinda exciting. I knew immediately what it was. My place of work is 6 floors and I am on the top floor. As soon as the shaking stopped they evacuated us and we were outside about 40 minutes before they let us back in.

At home I had two figurines fall off a shelf and get chipped; no other damage.

ny biker

08-23-2011, 05:29 PM

BTW, I have sunburn on the back of my neck from standing outside after we evacuated the building.

Which is pretty amazing. Despite all the time I spend riding my bike in the sun, my neck was still pale enough to burn in a short period of time. Neutrogena should pay me to do commercials for their sunscreen.

ny biker

08-23-2011, 05:50 PM

Okay, here is the link about earthquake safety.

http://geology.com/articles/earthquake-safety.shtml

And I received this from Arlington County:

After the Earthquake: Structural Safety Issues

August 23, 2011

The east coast experienced a 5.8 magnitude earthquake at 1:50 p.m. today, August 23, 2011. Initial reports from Arlington County personnel have indicated only minor damage. However, we recommend the following:

If you smell gas, leave the building or area and call 9-1-1 immediately.

Commercial structures: If you have concerns regarding the safety of your
building, please contact your building’s engineer, a structural engineer or
licensed contractor.

Residential structures: please survey your home for new cracks in brick facades and chimneys, foundation/basement walls and interior finishes around openings for windows and doors. If you question your home’s structural stability, please contact a structural engineer or licensed contractor.

If you think you have an unsafe condition, evacuate the building and call
[Police/Fire non-emergency phone number].

I just heard that they found cracks in some of the stones at the top of the Washington Monument. It's closed while they determine the severity of the damage and how to fix it.

Becky

08-23-2011, 06:24 PM

And if earthquakes aren't enough fun, this weekend we get a hurricane! I hope we don't have our own personal version of Japan.

Making my hurricane list now. :(

DH and I are north of you, and we're definitely watching this one! If she comes chugging up the Chesapeake, it could make for an interesting weekend!

Stay safe, Withm!

OakLeaf

08-23-2011, 06:26 PM

I didn't feel anything in central Ohio, although some people did. I must've been in the car, from what I can piece together. My parents are in Annapolis, MD - they said a pan fell off the kitchen table and everyone ran outside, but that was it.

PamNY

08-23-2011, 06:29 PM

Thanks nybiker. That is helpful. Here is what FEMA has to say (very similar):

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_during.shtm

I noticed today that many people who evacuated buildings didn't go very far -- so they wouldn't have been safe at all from falling debris.

I understand why people would instinctively leave a building, especially in Manhattan where terrorism seems likelier than an earthquake.

But standing around in the middle of a lot of tall buildings doesn't seem very wise after an earthquake.

withm

08-23-2011, 06:42 PM

DH and I are north of you, and we're definitely watching this one! If she comes chugging up the Chesapeake, it could make for an interesting weekend!

Stay safe, Withm!

Thanks. If Irene shows up Sunday morning, I'll be 800 miles away. Which is why I'm doing all the hurricane prep now. My kayak is in my living room, Weber grill stashed in the outdoor shower. Deck cushions and umbrella brought in. Plants moved hopefully to safety. Still need to disconnect hose boxes and put somewhere, and turn the tables upside down. I'ld like to harvest whatever I can from the herb garden but after that it's just wait and see.

Since I'm less than a mile from the ocean, we'll get flooding for sure. I just hope a tree doesn't fall on my house while I'm away. Frankly I like boring weekends. Earthquakes and hurricanes are way more interesting than we need right now. Or ever.

Koronin

08-23-2011, 07:23 PM

I felt here in NC. Not much of anything though, some minor shaking. Heck the planes from the base shake the house worse than the earthquake does. It also wasn't as strong here as the earthquake I was in years ago in California.

Yep, we also have a hurricane headed for us. Latest I heard was currently the winds are around 90 and it's back to Cat 1 status. They are expecting it to be a Cat 3 when it hits the NC coast somewhere. Thankfully (for us) the models keep moving it east to right now it looks like it should hit somewhere between Morehead City and the Outer Banks. (I'm in Jacksonville, NC). Also looks like landfall is going to be Saturday morning.
For us, my husband and I are already planning on being out of town (have tickets to the NASCAR races in Bristol, TN), so will be leaving Thursday evening after work. Have to make sure everything is brought inside or put in the garage before we leave. Of course I'm going to be worried to death about our 3 cats. I grew up in Ohio then spent 10 years in Charlotte, NC and never had to worry about hurricanes. Now I live on the NC coast. I really am hating hurricanes. Tomorrow I'm going to start putting all the little decrative animals and stuff in the garage. Thursday before we leave the grill will be brought inside and the empty gas tanks will be put in the shed, also patio table and chairs will come inside. Bird feeders will go in the garage, along with the bird baths. Just have no idea what to do about the potted plants.

jobob

08-23-2011, 10:50 PM

Well, in a show of solidarity for our East Coast friends, the Bay Area just had a very mild earthquake.

The USGS site doesn't show a magnitude just yet, but the epicenter was a few miles away from me, which is why I actually felt it.

Ed.: It was a 3.6, bah.

If I wasn't sitting in front of my computer I probably would have never noticed it. :cool:

Selkie

08-23-2011, 11:36 PM

We were home in Arlington, on leave & enjoying the final day of a long weekend. Lasted almost a minute and I could feel the ground rolling. It was surprisingly strong. Aside from broken glass from a print that fell off a shelf, three upset goldens, and some askew pictures on the wall, thank goodness, no damage.

Last year, we had a less intense quake (more of a rumbler than a shaker---yesterday's was a shaker, roller, and rumbler!)

OPM gave us Federal Employees the option for "unscheduled leave" today. Several USG buildings closed pending inspection. Fellow federal civil servants, check the OPM website for details

Catrin

08-24-2011, 02:17 AM

rubysoho

08-24-2011, 02:50 AM

Well that was one more check off my bucket list! While it was "only" a 5.8 I believe that was sufficient and I will be happy to never feel another quake. :p I definitely did not know what was happening. At first I thought we had large equipment/machinery showing up that I didn't know about. But then the rumbling and shaking got stronger and I noticed the walls moving. At that point I ushered two other employees out of the building until it stopped (I figure we don't have the same building codes that west coasters enjoy). Ah well. Glad that is over. Now let's get through this hurricane.

Crankin

08-24-2011, 02:57 AM

Looks like I won't be making my trip to the Old Silver Beach Saturday :confused:.
Going to get some water and check all of the flashlights. From what I saw this morning, it is probably going to take a track similar to Hurricane Bob, which came through in 91. We were on the heavy rain side, as opposed to heavy wind. Power was out for 6 hours, although right around us, some had power out for 2-3 days. At least we have town water now,as having a well makes things more complicated when the power goes out.

Catrin

08-24-2011, 03:17 AM

WindingRoad

08-24-2011, 04:16 AM

They say that people felt it in Indianapolis, but I didn't and I work in a 25 story building. They actually built the government building where I work on rollers for this very reason, interesting choice in the 1970's when it was built.

I didn't feel it either but given where I work right now there are huge bulldozers within 10 feet of our building. Yeah, we didn't notice either.... lol.

skhill

08-24-2011, 04:50 AM

The quake apparently cracked some plaster in a city building in far eastern KY-- that's a long way for a quake to cause any damage at all! I'm just glad that it sounds like there were no deaths or serious injuries, and the nuclear power plant is OK.

Hang on for Irene! What an strange week for the mid-Atlantic states....

pll

08-24-2011, 05:07 AM

Thanks nybiker. That is helpful. Here is what FEMA has to say (very similar):

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_during.shtm

The recommendation about bundling in your bed is just so bad! From experience, the biggest dangers/nuisances after an earthquake in your home are glass electric fixtures falling, and doors getting out of kilter. So, if I'm in bed, I will get up, put shoes on and open the front door of my apartment. Door areas (and elevator areas) are reinforced, so it is a safe spot to wait out the end of the shaking.

Outside, debris from buildings (windows breaking, stucco work...) and power cables are most dangerous.

Trek420

08-24-2011, 06:15 AM

Door areas (and elevator areas) are reinforced, so it is a safe spot to wait out the end of the shaking.

Outside, debris from buildings (windows breaking, stucco work...) and power cables are most dangerous.

Correct, load baring walls may be your best option. If you're inside get under a desk etc, duck, cover, hold on (the desk etc might move). If there's nothing like that nearby head for a load baring wall like elevator areas, near stairwell, bathrooms tend to be reinforced. Disabled people who might not be able to get under a desk should head there too. Move away from the windows.

Once the shaking stops (the earth, not you) if you're in an office the tendency is for everyone to skeedadle out. Don't use the elevators, take your normal evacuation route but wait ....

Depending on the quake the evacuation route might be blocked :eek: debris in stairway etc. So pick a person or persons to check the route first, say a manager you don't like much :p They go down and see if it's safe. You don't want the entire building leaving only to find on the bottom the route is blocked.

Sometimes you may be safer in the building than out.

Once outside stay away from the building, glass etc may still be falling.

PamNY

08-24-2011, 07:05 AM

pll

08-24-2011, 08:14 AM

Elevator areas -- does that mean standing next to the elevator would be safer in an earthquake?

My building is an old (built in 1910) office building that was converted to residential -- so I assume the original walls would be stronger than the walls that were added?

From what I've read, I'd guess the stairwell without windows and right next to the elevator would be safest -- does that sound reasonable?

The area of the elevator shaft is reinforced -- safe to stand next to it as the doors are not open. The problem with stairwells is that they are dangerous if people are running down. When I lived in Mexico City, we huddled next to the elevator during an earthquake (8th floor of a building). In Lima, we'd open the doors to the patio/garden and stand in the patio until we could no longer hear what we call 'the rumor' (which I think simply the wave coming and going .... in Lima, you will hear the rumor before you feel the shaking; the one time I felt an earthquake in Evanston, I woke up to that distinctive sound). It's interesting how earthquakes feel different depending on where you are. In Mexico City, I recall the shaking was side to side, while in Lima is more up and down.

ny biker

08-24-2011, 08:31 AM

One of my co-workers was standing near the elevators, in the center of the building, and he said he hardly felt anything. My desk is in the corner out near the windows, and I felt lots of shaking. Another co-worker was walking down the street a couple of blocks away. She felt almost nothing -- she thought maybe she had stumbled on something, then wondered why there appeared to be fire drills in so many of the buildings she was walking past.

Afterwards I wondered if the stairwells would be among the more stable places in the building.

When I got home, if I hadn't known there had been an earthquake I would not have thought anything had happened. Only a few small things fell off of the shelves/cabinets that they were on. Most important, my bike was fine.

divingbiker

08-24-2011, 08:46 AM

I was never so happy to be a bike commuter as I was yesterday. Traffic was horrible, since everyone was let go at the same time, but I just pedaled along and got home in the usual time, only 2 hours early!

PamNY

08-24-2011, 01:22 PM

The area of the elevator shaft is reinforced -- safe to stand next to it as the doors are not open. The problem with stairwells is that they are dangerous if people are running down. When I lived in Mexico City, we huddled next to the elevator during an earthquake (8th floor of a building). In Lima, we'd open the doors to the patio/garden and stand in the patio until we could no longer hear what we call 'the rumor' (which I think simply the wave coming and going .... in Lima, you will hear the rumor before you feel the shaking; the one time I felt an earthquake in Evanston, I woke up to that distinctive sound). It's interesting how earthquakes feel different depending on where you are. In Mexico City, I recall the shaking was side to side, while in Lima is more up and down.

Thanks for the tips. If there's another one I am heading for the elevator. Good point about the stairs -- but it would be less crowded in a residential building if people rushed down. Plus we all know each other and most went through 9/11 and the blackout together, so we are somewhat disaster-prepared.

I finally saw something in the newspaper about the fact that standing under buildings during an earthquake is a bad idea.

All of this has inspired me to figure out exactly what I would do if a hurricane hits here. With no car, evacuation is an adventure.

ny biker

08-24-2011, 01:30 PM

All of this has inspired me to figure out exactly what I would do if a hurricane hits here. With no car, evacuation is an adventure.

Perhaps a Dr Zhivago-like ride on NJ Transit?

I would argue that evacuation is an adventure *with* a car. You'd go faster on a bike -- yesterday's p.m. commute in the DC area proved that. The problem is that eventually you'd get tired. And your ability to carry stuff is limited.

PamNY

08-24-2011, 01:50 PM

I smiled reading about the DC commute yesterday. I'm sure the cyclists smiled, too.

I have a large, older dog to tote along when evacuating. I have a Radio Flyer wagon which would handily get him to Brooklyn -- if the bridge is open.

When we evacuated after 9/11, I scavenged a grocery cart for the dog (also an older bulldog who is no longer with us). It was missing two front wheels, so we strapped a donated furniture dolly on and it worked just fine.

The Fulton Fish Market was still operational at that time, so I found lots of materials at hand to make the cart comfy for him.

We later returned the dolly to the restaurant that donated it, along with a little plaque explaining how it was used. They still have it on the wall.

ny biker

08-24-2011, 01:55 PM

I don't think I'd want to go to Brooklyn for a hurricane.

GLC1968

08-24-2011, 02:51 PM

I heard on NPR this morning that the reason the earthquake was felt so far and wide out there is because the bedrock under the east coast is basically just one huge mass. Vibrations will travel the entire length of it because it's old and solid. This is in contrast to the west coast which is much newer (geologically speaking) and full of splits and fissures. Vibrations only travel to the end of the bedrock and then they dissipate, so west coast earthquakes tend to be more localized.

I thought that was interesting.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming...

Kubla

08-24-2011, 03:12 PM

I work on the water in Quincy, near Boston MA. I thought I felt something odd while sitting at my desk, but it was even more apparent when I stood up and realized the building was not trembling or rumbling but swaying back and forth. :eek:

The PA system came on just as we started exchanging worried comments-and we were ordered to evacuate the building immediately. I never saw my co-workers take a 'fire drill' so seriously.

We really didn't know what was going on until we got outside and someone with a Smart Phone let us know there had been an earthquake in Virginia. We were able to return to work within a half hour after the Fire Department gave us the ok, but it was certainly the topic of conversation the rest of the afternoon.