Richmond Rattled By Quake
One of the most dominant earthquakes in the history of Virginia, and throughout the eastern United States, has now been quickly forgotten in the wake of the destructive nature of Hurricane Irene. However the 15 second tremor measured a 5.8 on the Richter scale prompting buildings to clear, cell phone service to go dead and two nuclear reactors to shut down.
In downtown Richmond, VA, three residents were hospitalized for medical conditions, and a dozen more examined at the scene after they were evacuated. A 4.2-magnitude aftershock quake centered in crashed through central Virginia quickly after the original earthquake. This was one of three aftershocks that evening, as quakes measuring in at 2.8 and 2.2 hit after that.
According to reports, aftershocks could continue for days, and are to be expected. The reports went on to state that the original earthquake released some, but not all of the underground stress. The earthquake did not just disrupt residential life along the East Coast, as the tremor also caused the federal government to send workers home, members of the White House staff to huddle in a driveway, and the Washington Nationals baseball team to delay the start of a game scheduled Tuesday night.
Although the Richmond International Airport was able to operate normally after the earthquake, the FAA control tower was evacuated as a precaution for less than 10 minutes Tuesday, according to a Richmond International airport spokesman. €Some flights to RIC from northeastern U.S. locations were late Tuesday due to the earthquake-related ground delays at their departure airports,€ the airport spokesman remarked.
No injuries or significant damages were reported in the Richmond region, but the quake prompted a flood of emergency calls, and Richmond, VA home security system alarms going off, that mostly were from worried, and scared residents.
The quake was the biggest in Virginia since May 5, 1897, when a 5.8 tremor began in Giles County and was felt in 12 states. Luckily all major, buildings, structures, and bridges were inspected only to find that there was no evidence of structural damage. In these uncertain times in the Richmond area, with natural disaster-like forces all coming in the span of one week, authorities are cautioning residents to remain calm. The authorities went on to prompt residents to be wary of all surrounding, and to collect all necessary supplies now, in the case of residual effects from any of the recent events.
In downtown Richmond, VA, three residents were hospitalized for medical conditions, and a dozen more examined at the scene after they were evacuated. A 4.2-magnitude aftershock quake centered in crashed through central Virginia quickly after the original earthquake. This was one of three aftershocks that evening, as quakes measuring in at 2.8 and 2.2 hit after that.
According to reports, aftershocks could continue for days, and are to be expected. The reports went on to state that the original earthquake released some, but not all of the underground stress. The earthquake did not just disrupt residential life along the East Coast, as the tremor also caused the federal government to send workers home, members of the White House staff to huddle in a driveway, and the Washington Nationals baseball team to delay the start of a game scheduled Tuesday night.
Although the Richmond International Airport was able to operate normally after the earthquake, the FAA control tower was evacuated as a precaution for less than 10 minutes Tuesday, according to a Richmond International airport spokesman. €Some flights to RIC from northeastern U.S. locations were late Tuesday due to the earthquake-related ground delays at their departure airports,€ the airport spokesman remarked.
No injuries or significant damages were reported in the Richmond region, but the quake prompted a flood of emergency calls, and Richmond, VA home security system alarms going off, that mostly were from worried, and scared residents.
The quake was the biggest in Virginia since May 5, 1897, when a 5.8 tremor began in Giles County and was felt in 12 states. Luckily all major, buildings, structures, and bridges were inspected only to find that there was no evidence of structural damage. In these uncertain times in the Richmond area, with natural disaster-like forces all coming in the span of one week, authorities are cautioning residents to remain calm. The authorities went on to prompt residents to be wary of all surrounding, and to collect all necessary supplies now, in the case of residual effects from any of the recent events.
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