Breaking News: Earthquakes, Hurricanes…Oh boy!

So many people are saying they thought it was a terrorist attack, that buildings in New York where falling.  With this thought in mind, here is the latest.

Now this earthquake 5.8 magnitude at a depth 3.5 miles.

Two nuclear reactors are now off line in Virginia.

Fox News is saying that there is reports that Washington Monument is “tilting” although it has yet to be confirmed. All monuments in DC are now closed.

Shep Smith is saying that the East Coast is experiencing a “freak out” that is not warranted…”It is ratcheting up panic that is unnecessary.”Gotta love Shep!

East coast earthquakes may be rare… but they’re often more widespread than in western U.S. | Mail Online

It’s the strongest quake to hit the Virginia area since 1897 – and resulted in buildings such as the Capitol and Pentagon being evacuated.

Quake: Map on the U.S. Geological Survey website marks the epicenter of the earthquake in Mineral, VirginiaQuake: Map on the U.S. Geological Survey website marks the epicenter of the earthquake in Mineral, Virginia

5.9-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes East Coast – NYTimes.com

An earthquake sent tremors from the nation’s capital to New York City and New England Tuesday afternoon, the result of what officials said was a 5.9 magnitude earthquake based in Virginia.

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Buildings throughout major metropolitan centers in the northeast were evacuated after the quake, and tremors were felt as far north as Concord, N.H., and Hampstead, N.C., with some limited reports of damage reported near the quake’s epicenter in Virginia.

The streets of downtown Washington filled with thousands of people on Tuesday afternoon as buildings from the capital to the White House were evacuated.

A mild shake and tremble could be felt shortly before 2 p.m. The movement lasted no more than 30 seconds in downtown Washington.

5.9 quake hits Va.; Felt along U.S. east coast – CBS News

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

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 U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was 3.7 miles deep. Shaking was felt at the White House and all over the East Coast, as far south as Chapel Hill, N.C. Parts of the Pentagon, White House and Capitol were evacuated. The quake was in Mineral, Va., in Louisa County.

Quake felt in New York City office buildings | Reuters

Tremors shook New York City office buildings on Tuesday, prompting evacuations of courthouses, City Hall and halting work at the World Trade Center construction site, officials and witnesses said.

It was not immediately clear if there was any damage or injuries in the city, but fire department and police officials in Dutchess County, New York, reported structural damage to some buildings.

Info from the USGS:

Map Centered at 37°N, 80°W

Magnitude 5.9 – VIRGINIA

In other weather news, Irene is getting stronger and appears to be eyeing the Carolinas…Hurricane Irene could be major threat to Eastern Seaboard – USATODAY.com

Emergency officials from Florida to the Carolinas were closely watching Irene on Tuesday as the first hurricane to seriously threaten the U.S. in three years churned over energizing tropical waters and threatened to disrupt the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Of course now with the earthquake, I think DC is going to be experiencing more than “disruptions.” For Updated Irene conditions click here:

National Hurricane Center for the latest.

This earthquake in Virginia is a bit odd, considering the rare earthquake that hit in Colorado:  Rare Strong Earthquake Hits Colorado – NYTimes.com

USGS info on Colorado Earthquake:  Magnitude 5.3 – COLORADO


26 Comments on “Breaking News: Earthquakes, Hurricanes…Oh boy!”

  1. janicen says:

    It shook the heck out of my house for about 30 seconds.

    • Minkoff Minx says:

      There was some earthquake expert saying that the formation of the rocks in the north east coast is different than that in California. This formation causes the shockwaves to be felt stronger on the east coast than over on the west coast.

      • bostonboomer says:

        That answers the question I just asked below, I guess. Except the tremors were so widespread! Georgia to Massachusetts? I don’t know if it was felt in NH or not.

        • Minkoff Minx says:

          I will tell you one thing, that Irene is going to be a storm to watch…It looks like it is going to get stronger now that it is in the warm gulf stream waters.

          • dakinikat says:

            yup, it’s bringing back Katrina memories for me … sixth anniversary next month. The water is really warm and that really makes them big.

      • Minkoff Minx says:

        Ha, Fox news just admitted that the earthquake is just a result of faults that were created billions of years ago when the earth was formed…I wonder if that chick who said this will get fired.

      • madamab says:

        Oh noes, a Faux News talking head admitted the earth isn’t 6000 years old!?!

        It all just proves those people are a lot smarter than they pretend they are.

  2. bostonboomer says:

    That must have been one huge earthquake. I just got an emergency e-mail alert from BU saying tremors were felt all over the Boston area! How could the effects be so widespread when it was only a 5.5?

  3. foxyladi14 says:

    shaking up D.C. Bushes fault 😆

  4. Branjor says:

    I felt it at work – the building shook, at first I felt disoriented and then I noticed signs and lights shaking.

  5. Pat Johnson says:

    I felt it here in Western MA for about 60 seconds or less. We were in a restaurant just finishing lunch. No damage though from my knowledge.

    A little unsettling to say the least because you could feel the tremor going through.

  6. madamab says:

    Saw this from Jawbone at Corrente…looks like Mitt is hoovering up the cash from Wall Street. Obama is getting the shaft.

    http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/177675-wall-street-execs-turn-back-on-obama-give-to-romney

    And yes, I said “Hoover” on purpose. 😉

  7. Fannie says:

    Wow, now you know what it feels like……….about those reactors in Va…..they automatically shut down when they vibrate and shake, and everybody is sent to do investigation………

    Wonder if another will come?

  8. Minkoff Minx says:

    Here is the news from the Washington Monument:
    PICKET: FNC reports Washington Monument may be tilting from quake jolt – Washington Times

    I have the new evening reads post up, just FYI.