Earthquake strikes US east coast

danniemcq

Earthquakes Shake Entire United States (UPDATING LIVE)
A string of earthquakes has just struck the entire United States of America. Our offices just shook—as did many in states across the country. We'll be updating the story as it develops.
Update: Colorado was hit with a 5.3 magnitude quake—its largest in 40 years.

Update 2: T-Mobile and AT&T's cell networks are confirmed jammed for us in Manhattan. Some Verizon users having trouble too.

Update 3: WaPo reports the epicenter of the east coast quakes was in central Virginia—reaching all the way up to Boston.

Update 4: The Pentagon, White House, and Capitol have been evacuated. GET TO DA CHOPPA!

Update 5: Could this be the first time the internet hit people before the actual earthquake did?

Update 6: The USGS has bumped up the Virginian earthquake to a 5.9.

from here http://gizmodo.com/5833640/earthquakes-shake-entire-united-states

and a serious article

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 struck near Washington, D.C., the U.S.Geological Survey said.

The epicenter was in Virginia.

The quake was felt in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York City and on Martha's Vineyard where President Barack Obama is vacationing. Cell phone service has been disrupted in New York City where parts of Manhattan have been evacuated.

"Everybody was told to take the stairs," Wolf Blitzer said, speaking live at 2 p.m. E.T. from CNN's D.C. bureau.

The Pentagon has been evacuated, CNN's Barbara Starr reports. "When the building began shaking rather violently, hundreds of people began streaming out," she said, because many people thought that the building was under attack. Starr was standing in the Pentagon's press office when the roof started to shake.

Twitter traffic suggests the quake was felt all over the east coast.

In Philadelphia, HunterPence3 tweeted, "Wow Earthquake just shook the entire locker room!"

In Cleveland, "tribeinsider" wrote "I'm no expert but i think we just had an earthquake here."

And even in Toronto, tweets said that the shaking could be felt for minutes.

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

and now upgraded to a 6

smash

But it's not 2012 yet.... is Yosemite gonna blow now?

fontanalis

smash wrote: »

But it's not 2012 yet.... is Yosemite gonna blow now?

Yomamite blow!

danniemcq

they are worried its a foreshock and the big one is yet to come...

and i thought it was a joke but nope the whitehouse has been evacuated. If this was in England it'd be looted within the hour

DjFlin

There was no Earthquake, its just the dollar plummeting.

Spread

I was putting petrol in my car and the ground shook for about half a minute. Then an after shock a minute later. No damage in NH but the computers were down, mobiles affected and people who wanted to panic ...... panicked. Delighted to have experienced it. About 30 years ago I was staying in a hotel in Budapest and slept through a 6.2 one. Glasses fell on the floor but a rake of the local Bulls Blood had me in the arms of Morpheus throughout. My life is now complete

jonnyrudyard

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 struck near Washington, D.C., the U.S.Geological Survey said.

The U.S.Geological Survey is wrong. It struck just west of Richmond (ie the epicenter). I was on the road - car did an odd swaying for a bit but no way did I think earthquake. The house was another story, shook for about a full minute. Weird.

figarofigaro

jonnyrudyard wrote: »

The U.S.Geological Survey is wrong. It struck just west of Richmond (ie the epicenter). I was on the road - car did an odd swaying for a bit but no way did I think earthquake. The house was another story, shook for about a full minute. Weird.

Read the next line.

The epicenter was in Virginia.



Don't talk **** about geologists.

old_aussie

Spread wrote: »

Then an after shock a minute later. No damage in NH

For the millions and the billions of people who don't live in NH, where is NH?

Napper Hawkins

New Hampshire?

wandatowell

old_aussie wrote: »

For the millions and the billions of people who don't live in NH, where is NH?

Between the Spacebar and Y

Some photos of the devastation

http://www.joshharris.com/Maryland%20Earthquake.jpg

http://oi52.tinypic.com/2yxncp4.jpg

Spread

wandatowell wrote: »

Between the Spacebar and Y

Very good! Took me a few secs. Thought you were talking about some kind of video game move

wandatowell

Spread wrote: »

Very good! Took me a few secs. Thought you were talking about some kind of video game move

How are things in NH anyways???

Overheal

So how many americans jumped at the same time?

I reckon that depends on the population along the east coast, given that the quake alarmed several million and spurred a premature rush hour in places.

But I know you were going for the stereotype, to show of how intellectual you were. Have a pat on the head.

Actually in more serious news - Nuclear Reactors.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/24/quake-usa-nuclear-dominion-idUSN1E77M1N320110824

* Two reactors at Virginia plant shut after quake

* Event a "wake-up call" for US nuclear industry-Scientist

* Idled plant designed to withstand 6.2 magnitude quake

* Plants reacted as planned to quake-industry officials

(Adds details, background and bylines.)

By Eileen O'Grady and Joshua Schneyer

HOUSTON/NEW YORK, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The largest earthquake to hit the East Coast of the United States in 67 years raised concerns on Tuesday about the safety of the country's nuclear power plants.

The 5.8 magnitude quake's epicenter was just a few miles from the two-reactor North Anna nuclear power plant operated by Dominion Resources (D.N) in Mineral, Virginia, 80 miles southwest of Washington.

The plant lost power and automatically halted operations after the quake. While a Dominion spokesman reported no "major" damage to the facility, three diesel generators were required to kick in and keep the reactors' radioactive cores cool. A fourth diesel unit failed.

While nuclear power plants can operate safely on back-up power, failure of generators was a key reason for the disaster at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant after a 9.0 magnitude quake and tsunami in March.

"Nuclear power plants lose a significant margin of safety when they're forced to rely on these emergency back-up systems," said Paul Gunter, director of reactor oversight at Beyond Nuclear, an anti-nuclear lobby group.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said North Anna's shutdown was safe and posed no risk to the public. It wasn't clear when off-site power could be restored or when the 1806-megawatt plant, which remained on alert, could restart.

Dominion spokesman Jim Norvelle said the plant was designed to withstand an earthquake of up to 6.2 in magnitude.

But some experts expressed concern about the narrow margin between the design metrics and the quake's size.

"It was uncomfortably close to design basis," said Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists, which has pushed for stronger nuclear regulations.

"If Fukushima wasn't a wake-up call, this really needs to be to get the NRC and industry moving to do seismic reviews of all the nuclear power plants in the country."

Tuesday's quake, which was felt along the East Coast as far north as Canada, was the region's largest since a 5.9 quake hit New York State in 1944.

North Anna's reactors are among 27 east of the Rockies that the NRC highlighted during a seismic review last year as presenting a potential hazard, due to the amount of ground-shaking they were designed to withstand.

Twelve other nuclear plants along the Eastern Seaboard declared an "unusual event" following the quake, the lowest of the NRC's emergency classification ratings. North Anna's "alert" status is one step further up on a four-step U.S. emergency scale.

READY OR NOT?

Many nuclear experts say plants in the United States were designed with big margins of error built in, but last year's NRC survey found that the risks posed by earthquakes were higher than previously thought.

And Victor Gilinsky, who was an NRC commissioner at the time of the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster in Pennsylvania in 1979, said that he was concerned that safety at plants like North Anna were not being reviewed as understanding of earthquakes increases.

"It is important to review the seismic design of the plant in terms of current knowledge," he said "Instead, the NRC has been relicensing plants without any real safety review - they do not question any of the original licensing conditions, they only check to see whether the plant has a program to deal with old equipment. It's an irresponsible approach."

Still, Ronald Ballinger, an engineering professor at the Massachusett Institute of Technology, said quakes like Tuesday's posed little danger to U.S. nuclear plants.

"The size of the vibrations from this East Coast earthquake are probably less than you would feel in a loud nightclub," Ballinger said.

Based on its 5.8 magnitude rating, the quake was almost 10,000 times weaker than Japan's quake in March and posed no tsunami risk, Ballinger said.

U.S. nuclear plants responded to Tuesday's quake as they were designed to, said Tony Pietrangelo, chief nuclear officer at the Nuclear Energy Institute trade industry group.

No other East Coast plant had operations disrupted. Entergy's (ETR.N) Indian Point nuclear plant located north of New York City was operating normally, as was Dominion's two-unit Surry plant in Gravel, Virginia.

The last time a quake of similar magnitude hit Virginia was in 1897, the U.S. Geological Survey said. A 7.3 magnitude quake, the largest recorded in East Coast history, hit South Carolina in 1886.

Dominion is one of 11 U.S. power companies who have expressed interest in building new advanced nuclear reactors. It has proposed adding a new reactor to the North Anna plant.

(David Sheppard, Jeanine Prezioso, Roberta Rampton, Eileen Moustakis and Janet McGurty contributed reporting; Editing by David Gregorio, Martin Howell)

wait for more information before we can say this is safe or if it's trouble.

Spread

old_aussie wrote: »

For the millions and the billions of people who don't live in NH, where is NH?

Answer coming up!

Napper Hawkins wrote: »

New Hampshire?

Thank you Hawkins.

wandatowell wrote: »

Between the Spacebar and Y

That will be all wandatowell. NEXT?

jonnyrudyard

figarofigaro wrote: »

Read the next line.

The epicenter was in Virginia.



Don't talk **** about geologists.

lol

To say the quake was "struck near Washington DC" is not accurate, or at least misleading. It would be like saying a San Diego, CA quake "struck near Los Angeles." Still going too fast for you?

PS I'll "talk ****" about whoever I like, so stuff your snotty attitude.

Geologists are losers, nyah nyahh nyah nyahh nyahhhhh

:rolleyes:

Spread

wandatowell wrote: »

How are things in NH anyways???

Grand. Going slowly into Autumn and the nights are getting noticeably cooler. Still some days hit 30*C for a few hours but lots of thunderstorms. Berry season is just over (last few shaken off trees today ) and the foliage is starting to go russet. This is my first year here so all is new to me . I read The Examiner daily or listen to the RTE news.

wandatowell

Spread wrote: »

That will be all wandatowell. NEXT?

Please, call me wanda

Spread wrote: »

Grand. Going slowly into Autumn and the nights are getting noticeably cooler. Still some days hit 30*C for a few hours but lots of thunderstorms. Berry season is just over (last few shaken off trees today ) and the foliage is starting to go russet. This is my first year here so all is new to me . I read The Examiner daily or listen to the RTE news.

That sounds lovely, you happy there?

Im noticing the change in the evening temps here too, always a bad sign

Overheal

jonnyrudyard wrote: »

lol

To say the quake was "struck near Washington DC" is not accurate, or at least misleading. It would be like saying a San Diego, CA quake "struck near Los Angeles." Still going too fast for you?

PS I'll "talk ****" about whoever I like, so stuff your snotty attitude.

Geologists are losers, nyah nyahh nyah nyahh nyahhhhh

:rolleyes:

And you're apparently from the States?



You realise DC is within about 50 miles and I hope you know the first thing about Earthquakes right? You know they cause a lot of damage farther out from the Epicenter don't you?

It's not really at all misleading - unless you don't know what you're talking about.

Spread

wandatowell wrote: »

....................................................................................................
That sounds lovely, you happy there?

Im noticing the change in the evening temps here too, always a bad sign

Yes, have retired out here. But you get a long winter with average snowfall accumulation of about 80" and temps down to -30*C. Plenty of wintersports, ice fishing etc.

later12

No injuries, pretty much a non story, no idea why this is in the news here.

Spread

Everything is hyped over here and the agencies rush to send the most lurid story. But if the people didn't want the excitement they could, first of all, not tune into Fox News.

Overheal

later10 wrote: »

No injuries, pretty much a non story, no idea why this is in the news here.

Because the media got some pictures of marine one flying off or some BS. I thought he was out in Martha's vineyard or something. Meh.

DermotOH

Title made me smile

DermotOH

http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/meh+First+time+New+York+got+hit+by+an+earthquake_c8e03c_2526548.jpg

avalon68

Spread wrote: »

Grand. Going slowly into Autumn and the nights are getting noticeably cooler. Still some days hit 30*C for a few hours but lots of thunderstorms. Berry season is just over (last few shaken off trees today ) and the foliage is starting to go russet. This is my first year here so all is new to me . I read The Examiner daily or listen to the RTE news.

I was just thinking this today! Hard to imagine it wount be long until the snow starts now Pretty cool to now be able to say Ive felt the earth shake.....maybe Ill get an I survived the earthquake T-shirt printed I never thought Id feel an earthquake up in NH.....although it felt more like someone was doing construction on the floor below us - we had no idea there was an earthquake until afterwards.

danniemcq

Overheal wrote: »

I reckon that depends on the population along the east coast, given that the quake alarmed several million and spurred a premature rush hour in places.

But I know you were going for the stereotype, to show of how intellectual you were. Have a pat on the head.

wow, way to take the fun out of a earthquake

IvyTheTerrible

jonnyrudyard wrote: »

lol



Geologists are losers, nyah nyahh nyah nyahh nyahhhhh

:rolleyes:

Geologists ROCK!

biko

Friend works on the 20th floor in a building in NYC, said it was pretty scary being trapped inside a building when it starts shaking.

holystungun9

jonnyrudyard wrote: »

lol

To say the quake was "struck near Washington DC" is not accurate, or at least misleading. It would be like saying a San Diego, CA quake "struck near Los Angeles." Still going too fast for you?

PS I'll "talk ****" about whoever I like, so stuff your snotty attitude.

Geologists are losers, nyah nyahh nyah nyahh nyahhhhh

:rolleyes:

Geology rocks!!!!

(sorry, but I've waited years to use that, and yes I stole it from Ross)

cosmicfart

GET TO DA CHOPPA!

NiRiainRua

I am particularly interested in Emergency preparations and response, because I was Disaster Action Team Captain for the Red Cross in Orlando during deadly tornados and wild fires. Subsequently I was a damage inspector contracted to FEMA. I was on the scene of several Hurricanes including Katrina in New Orleans.
I have seen enough Federal and local Government stupidity to last me a lifetime.

The two Nuclear Reactors of the North Anna Power Station which were shut down were within 5 miles of the epicentre, according to the US Geological survey. Here is a cute little statement:
(Quote from ABC News.com)

"Seismographs had been installed around the North Anna Power Station to detect earthquakes, but those were taken offline in the 1990s due to budget cuts, according to the State of Virginia website."

The following was issued August 10th 2011: http://www.vaemergency.gov/news/news-releases/2011/quarterly-siren-test-for-NA-8172011

"RICHMOND, VA – State and local officials will test the early warning siren system around the North Anna Power Station Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011, at approximately 11:10 a.m. If there were an actual emergency at North Anna Power Station, residents would hear four separate three-minute activations, each separated by a one-minute silent interval.
The next test of the North Anna siren system will be Nov. 16, 2011."

There now, doesn't that make you feel safe?

Aside: President Obama was clearly very concerned when he took the call about the earthquake on the golfcourse on Martha's Vinyard during yet another vacation...
....he bravely played on, but it almost put him off his stroke and made him score
a double bogey.

Big Nasty

NiRiainRua wrote: »

I am particularly interested in Emergency preparations and response, because I was Disaster Action Team Captain for the Red Cross in Orlando during deadly tornados and wild fires. Subsequently I was a damage inspector contracted to FEMA. I was on the scene of several Hurricanes including Katrina in New Orleans.

Interesting job! How did you land that?

CorkMan

Kanye West will upload a video on his youtube account about now saying Obama isn't looking after the black neighborhoods properly, and how he doesn't care about black people.

FetchTheGin

CorkMan wrote: »

Kanye West will upload a video on his youtube account about now saying Obama isn't looking after the black neighborhoods properly, and how he doesn't care about black people.

...

Spread

FetchTheGin wrote: »

...

Click on the above dots to view Michael D Higgins (complete with toupee)after the earthquake has seperated his body from his head. Didn't know he was canvassing for the Presidency on this side of the Pond. He seems to have got a new hair stylist. The contact lenses make him look more ordinary - people had been complaining about his regal aloofness. The auld bit of colour adds to his new found ordinariness

Dangerous Man

It was felt as far North as Toronto, apparently. Well I'm in TO and I didnt feel shit. Almost disappointed. :mad:

Overheal

National Level Exercise 11.

It seems that in the wake of Fukushima the Federal Government launched in May a rather big drill with the National Guard simulating a new quake on the Madrid Fault line that would potentially kill 100,000 people and displace 7 million.

The hint is in the name - They've done 10 other such exercises, usually for simulations about terrorist strikes, natural disasters and viral pandemics.

http://gizmodo.com/5833875/pentagon-quake-nightmare-fukushima-on-the-mississippi

A pretty interesting article. One of many that gizmodo republishes courtesy of Wired.

Would we have been prepared for an M7 or M8? Unlikely; but we're far more prepared than we ever would have been before.

jonnyrudyard

CorkMan wrote: »

Kanye West will upload a video on his youtube account about now saying Obama isn't looking after the black neighborhoods properly, and how he doesn't care about black people.

But you better not criticize him or you're a racist. Unless, of course, you're black. We all know blacks can't be racists. :pac:

flas

Overheal wrote: »

I reckon that depends on the population along the east coast, given that the quake alarmed several million and spurred a premature rush hour in places.

But I know you were going for the stereotype, to show of how intellectual you were. Have a pat on the head.

Actually in more serious news - Nuclear Reactors.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/24/quake-usa-nuclear-dominion-idUSN1E77M1N320110824

wait for more information before we can say this is safe or if it's trouble.

its to show off.... not really the best sentence to be calling some intellegence into question!

Overheal

flas wrote: »

its to show off.... not really the best sentence to be calling some intellegence into question!

Touché I guess?

LighterGuy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUy2HYoUd6M

Is it possible?
or will it ever be possible?

LighterGuy

NiRiainRua wrote: »

I am particularly interested in Emergency preparations and response, because I was Disaster Action Team Captain for the Red Cross in Orlando during deadly tornados and wild fires. Subsequently I was a damage inspector contracted to FEMA. I was on the scene of several Hurricanes including Katrina in New Orleans.

Cool I have to say.
How does one get fall into what you did?