Eastcoast Earthquake

[sth]

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc0005ild.html



5.9 Earthquake hit Virginia and was felt all over the east coast.

 

[MassHavoc]

NYC was evacuating buildings. Can you imagine how scary that would be if you had no clue what was going on... 10 years later.

 

[BigPete]

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/at00lqe6x3.php

It happened very close to DC, actually closer to Richmond, VA.

I was on the phone with one my team members in Springfield VA and he said it shook the building pretty good. Mind you this is a brand new multi billion dollar government building that is still in construction. How much would it suck if that thing came down?

 

[bri]

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Nah. She's probably not even in the area.

 

[LordKOTL]

On one hand, it is the east of the rockies and as such, quakes are felt over a much larger area. Further, buildings are less earthquake proof out there.



On the other hand, it was just a 5.9--considered high end of moderate quakes.

 

[MassHavoc]

We just got a notice that our DC area office was evacuated and everyone seems to be find, but that the government is shutting down for the day. Of course. any excuse.

 

[Tater]

We just got a notice that our DC area office was evacuated and everyone seems to be find, but that the government is shutting down for the day. Of course. any excuse.

O.K., I LOL'ed

 

[LordKOTL]

We all lol'ed People in Alaska, California, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, and British Columbia are telling the US Government to Man Up.

 

[BigPete]

We just got a notice that our DC area office was evacuated and everyone seems to be find, but that the government is shutting down for the day. Of course. any excuse.

It was great living out there. Eeek a snow flake, EARLY DISMISSAL - Head straight home and BE SAFE!!!

 

[MassHavoc]

Yep, my buddy up at fort mead just sent me a text saying they are evac'ing and going home. Hurricane on the way too I guess. Normally I'd call him a pussy and tell him to be a man, but he said the whole building shook, so not knowing what I would do in that situation, I'd get the **** out of there.



I'm way up in a high rise right now, you better believe I would start trucking if it started shaking. I'm up 17 floors at home too.

 

[BigPete]

The Huricane won't be there for a few days, but I do have a feeling it is going to sock them. I hope it doesn't **** up Alexandria like one did around 02 or 03. When those storms do get there, they bring massive amounts of rain and coastal (water) surges.



My boss's husband works near Meade and she said the roof of his building collapsed. I am waiting to hear more specifics, I think they have an out building by the agency for his contract. They don't like comingling with contractors at that agency.



I am more concerned about my sister's brother in law (and family) who live in Charlottesville. He is the head of the observatory at UVA. The epicenter was really close to there.

 

[LordKOTL]

Mass: In a properly-designed earthquake-resistant building (let's say one engineered to take a 7), the building should shake and start swaying. The bearings in the foundation allow it to do so and the struts dissipate the energy much like a car's shock absorber. It's the whole bend vs. break principle.



Your best bet is to try and get info on excatly what seismic load our building(s) are designed o withstand, and then figure out the strongest probable quake that can be expected in your area. I would venture a guess that most buildings in Chi-town are probably engineered for a 5. If the new madrid ruptures at an 8, yeah, you're probably screwed, but that's only happened once in recorded history.

 

[MassHavoc]

Well yeah, I mean I know all that, but when a building starts shaking it's almost impossible to tell if it's "meh, that's what it's supposed to do" or "HOLY SHIT WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE". I don't sit here afraid of earthquakes, and I wouldn't probably do it anywhere, but untill the building starts shaking on it's own there is no telling how I would react.

 

[LordKOTL]

Good point.

 

[winos5]

We just got a notice that our DC area office was evacuated and everyone seems to be find, but that the government is shutting down for the day. Of course. any excuse.

DJIA promptly shot up 300 points...

 

[JOVE23]

I felt nothing. But I'm an emotionally crippled person so I never feel anything.