On this day, August 23, 2011, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake was felt across the eastern U.S.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2011 Virginia earthquake



USGS ShakeMap: VIRGINIA

UTC time: 2011-08-23 17:51:04
Local date: August 23, 2011
Local time: 1:51:04 pm EDT
Magnitude:5.8 Mw
Depth: 6 km (4 mi)
Epicenter: Coordinates: 37°56′10″N 77°55′59″W

On August 23, 2011, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit the Piedmont region of the U.S. state of Virginia at 1:51:04 p.m. EDT. The epicenter, in Louisa County, was 38 mi (61 km) northwest of Richmond and 5 mi (8 km) south-southwest of the town of Mineral. It was an intraplate earthquake with a maximum perceived intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale. Several aftershocks, ranging up to 4.5 Mw in magnitude, occurred after the main tremor.

The quake was felt across more than a dozen U.S. states and in several Canadian provinces, and was felt by more people than any other quake in U.S. history. No deaths and only minor injuries were reported. Minor and moderate damage to buildings was widespread and was estimated by one risk-modeling company at $200 million to $300 million, of which about $100 million was insured.

The earthquake prompted research that revealed that the farthest landslide from the epicenter was 150 miles (240 km), by far the greatest landslide distance recorded from any other earthquake of similar magnitude. Previous studies of worldwide earthquakes indicated that landslides occurred no farther than 36 miles (58 km) from the epicenter of a magnitude 5.8 earthquake. The Virginia earthquake study suggested that the added information about East Coast earthquakes may prompt a revision of equations that predict ground shaking.

{snip}

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. 10 years ago, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit Virginia and was felt across the eastern U.S.

TOP STORY

PHOTOS & VIDEOS: 10 years ago, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit Virginia and was felt across the eastern U.S.

15 hrs ago

On August 23, 2011, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit Virginia. The epicenter was near the town of Mineral in Louisa County, but the quake was felt across more than a dozen U.S. states and several Canadian provinces.

Scientists said the Louisa quake may have been the most-felt in U.S. history.

Below are videos and photos from the day of the quake and its aftermath.

{snip}



The office at Main Street Supply Plumbing and Electrical in Mineral, Va. was chaotic after an earthquake wreaked havoc on the store Tuesday afternoon.

The Daily Progress/Sabrina Schaeffer

{This is what my workspace looks like all the time.}

{snip}



People crowd Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, as they evacuate buildings after an earthquake his the in Washington area.

Charles Dharapak/The Associated Press

{snip}



FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2011, file photo, damage to the Washington National Cathedral is seen the day after a earthquake shook Washington and much of the East Coast. The unexpected jolt cracked the Washington Monument in spots and toppled delicate masonry high atop the National Cathedral. The shaking was felt far along the densely populated Eastern seaboard from Georgia to New England. While West Coast earthquake veterans scoffed at what they viewed as only a moderate temblor, last year’s quake has forever changed the way officials along the East Coast view emergency preparedness.

J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press

{snip}



FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2011, file photo, Dave Megerle, a member of Wiss, Janney, Elstner, Associates (WJE) "Difficult Access Team," attaches ropes to the top of the Washington Monument, on the National Mall, in Washington, from which four people will rappel down the sides to survey the extent of damage sustained to the monument from the Aug. 23 earthquake. Congress allocated $7.5 million late in 2011 to repair the damage to the monument caused by the Aug. 23, 2011, 5.8-magnitude earthquake. Philanthropist David Rubenstein tells The Associated Press he felt inspired to help after learning about cracks and chipped stonework high up the 555-foot obelisk and on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2012, will announce he is donating the final $7.5 million needed to repairs cracks atop the monument.

Evan Vucci/The Associated Press

{snip the rest}

[Quakerfriend]

2. I will never forget that one!

In the hospital talking to one of the nurses and seeing the Hoyer lift stationary next to us begin to sway back and forth… just outside of Philadelphia.

[woodsprite]

3. I'm in DE, remember I thought my coworker

Opposite me must be working on a problem and was pounding on his desk. Then I turned around and saw my other coworkers monitors shaking. We had no idea what to do in an earthquake - stay inside the concrete bldg, go outside, so we all just stayed put.

Son was on the playground at camp and didn’t notice it. Daughter was home from college napping on the couch with the dog and cat, who started acting nuts before she realized what was going on.

[phylny]

4. I was working at our clinic in Lynchburg.

We felt it for quite some time. It took a few moments to realize what it was. No damage.

[CozyMystery]

5. I was in western PA.

The house shook a little, and then a single pane window broke. I immediately checked the news, and found out about the earthquake. Was flabbergasted that it's effects were felt here.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. 10th Anniversary Of Historic Earthquake That Shook The East Coast

WEATHER

10th Anniversary Of Historic Earthquake That Shook The East Coast

08/23/2021 By United States Geological Survey

RICHMOND, Va. - Ten years ago, in the early afternoon of August 23, 2011, millions of people throughout the eastern U.S. felt shaking from a magnitude 5.8 earthquake near Mineral, Virginia. No lives were lost, something experts called “lucky” given the extent of shaking, but property damage was estimated to be in the range of $200 to $300 million.

Damage to the Washington National Cathedral in D.C. from the earthquake in central Virginia on August 23, 2011. (Credit: William Leith, USGS. Public domain.)

Although not the strongest earthquake to have occurred in the eastern U.S., let alone the western U.S., the Virginia earthquake was likely felt by more people than any earthquake in North America’s history. This is due to the large distances at which people felt ground shaking and because of the density of the population in the eastern U.S.



Damage to the Washington National Cathedral in D.C. from the earthquake in central Virginia August 23, 2011. (Credit: William Leith, USGS. Public domain.)

Damage to the Washington National Cathedral in D.C. from the earthquake in central Virginia August 23, 2011. (Credit: William Leith, USGS. Public domain.)



Damage to the Washington National Cathedral in D.C. from the earthquake in central Virginia on August 23, 2011. (Credit: William Leith, USGS. Public domain.)

{snip}