I know some of our west coast members are used to the ground shaking, but we just had an earthquake in the D.C. area.

Kind of an interesting feeling .

Pete

We just (a few minutes ago) had a 5.8 quake in the Washington D.C. area. I am 20+ miles east near Annapolis MD and it knocked over framed photos etc., but no damage or aftershocks so far. Early TV report that Pentagon and Capital are being evacuated.

How are local DC area members doing?

Looks like it's centered east of Charlottesville, VA:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/shakemap/global/shake/c0005ild/

Felt it strongly in SE PA 130 miles north of DC. Apparently the "old crust" under the east coast is very efficient in spreading the waves outwards.

Last one I felt on the east cost was in early '73.

I know our west coast members are laughing their *a&&*s off.

I'm near the Capitol Building -- first thought was that there was a huge explosion.

Incredible. It's one thing to know the potential for earthquake shaking (the 1811-12 New Madrid quakes rang church bells in DC and Boston) but quite another to experience this shaking. The east coast's geology does transmit earthquake waves more efficiently than California's.

People ran out of buildings into the street and everyone was asking aloud what the heck had happened.

Sounds like a shallow quake (3.7 miles down) and 5.9 or 6.0 is enormous for the east coast. Virginia has a history of quakes but previously 4.0 or so was about the upper limit in recent years.

I'm going to run home and see how 100 year old brick rowhouses are faring.

Cell phone still is not functioning. Cell service cut out right away.

Walked my dog with a friend this morning and she commented on what a beautiful day it is: "9/11 sky," she said.

Reports that people felt it as far as Toronto and Michigan and Ohio? For a 5.9? Yeah, that's pretty efficient transmission of the energy over long distances. A West Coast quake generally does not propogate that far.

It's amazing how it's grinding everything to a halt or least slowing things--the Federal gov't, Wall St., major airports, etc.

I felt the quake very clearly here on Long Island, just outside of NYC. Though I've never felt an earthquake before, there was no doubt what it was.

I marvelled at the feeling for a moment, until I noticed that the house was shaking enough that the windowshades were hitting the windows. Then I decided to ride the rest out in my backyard.

Very odd.

That said, it confirms that we're doomed here in NY if anything really bad ever happens. JFK and Newark airports are currently closed, due to evacuations of the control towers.

Now, I'll go back to worrying about hurricane Irene.

Felt it clearly here around NYC!

Please, nobody tell my girlfriend. She thought I made the earth move. That will be our secret. O, here she comes. Signing off in haste, DB

Sounds like it could be a real messy commute home today for places like NYC if public transit remains shut down for inspections when ppl are trying to get home.

Good luck trying to call ppl on your cell phone now since everyone is trying to call each other to ask if they felt the quake.