East coast earthquake

[HillSlugger]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Selkie]

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]

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.

[rubysoho]

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. 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]

Looks like I won't be making my trip to the Old Silver Beach Saturday .
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]

Looks like I won't be making my trip to the Old Silver Beach Saturday .
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.

Be safe! Hopefully there won't be a direct landfall for this one.

[WindingRoad]

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.