Earthquake Felt Across Triad
Magnitude-5.8 Quake Centered In Virginia
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- An earthquake was felt across the Triad Tuesday afternoon just before 2 p.m., lasting for about 20 seconds.
Quake Captured On Video In Yadkinville | USGS Quake Information | On Camera: DC Quake Shakes Meeting | Slideshow
The magnitude-5.8 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. Reports were called to the WXII newsroom from Winston-Salem, Greensboro and other surrounding counties that the quake could be felt.
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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.
Parts of the Pentagon, White House and Capitol were evacuated. The quake was in Mineral, Va., in Louisa County.
No reports of injuries or damage have been reported.
Some workers in Raleigh evacuated from offices when the tremor hit Tuesday. Others stayed where they were, and said they were unaware of what was causing floors, ceilings and computer monitors to shake.
Paul Bonavita blamed the air-conditioning at the building that houses his medical communications company. Fiona Parker said she and her co-workers fled when they realized their building was shaking even though no wind was blowing.
Spokespeople for Duke Energy and Progress said the two companies' six nuclear power plants all stayed online.
The earthquake was felt inside the terminal, parking deck and control tower at Piedmont Triad International Airport, but didn't cause any damage or disrupt service.
EMS officials asked that those who felt the quake not call 911 so that phone lines would be available for actual emergencies. In Surry County, 90 people called 911 just after the quake hit, officials said.
"Our home shook. Even scared our cat in Siloam, NC," Jamie Church posted on WXII's Facebook page.
"Was sound asleep and got shook out of my bed! It scared me to death!" said Cindy Whitaker.
WXII ulocal user yadkincs submitted a videoshowing the ground rumbling in Yadkinville.
The last time Triad residents reported feeling an earthquake was in 2006. That fall, several minor quakes of magnitude 1.3 to 2.8 were felt.
Stewart Rouse, a geophysics instructor at North Carolina A&T University, said earthquakes of this magnitude are rarely felt on the East Coast.
"Enjoy it, because you probably won’t feel another of this size in your lifetime, because earthquakes of this size don’t happen very often on this side of the United States," Rouse said.
Rouse has been studying earthquakes for the past six years. He said he was at the dentist's office when Tuesday's quake hit and he rushed back to campus to check the school's seismometer. Unfortunately, Rouse said the instrument wasn't recording data.
Did you feel the quake? Upload images and video to ulocal.
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