# Did we just have an earthquake? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 23, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803 "2011-08-23T17:55:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/141 "2011-08-23T20:49:59Z")
Central NY, hanging light fixtures swaying an inch or so. I was out driving around so didn’t notice. We’ve felt similar mild tremors in the past. I hope that’s it because there’s a nuclear power plant about an hour’s drive north. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/142 "2011-08-23T20:54:14Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > My mother (near here) suffered significant knick-knack damage. Were her knacks nicked? Or her knickers nacked? Hopefully her paddy-whack was intact. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/143 "2011-08-23T21:02:34Z")
Second sizable quake in the US today. I’m thinking of the New Madrid & Reelfoot Faults, & sweating a bit. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/144 "2011-08-23T21:08:46Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > What I love is that this time around we started getting “OMG NOOBS ARE OVERREACTING” posts _before the damage reports were even in_. The damage reports were in, for NYC. I think a few pens rolled off of desks, maybe a cell phone on the edge of a table fell off and cracked. As I was not in VA or DC, nor was I watching the reactions from those areas, I cannot comment on their level of reaction. NYers, however, should behave better. The fucking elevated subways\* sway more when a train approaches (though I imagine if one was up on an elevated platform, that might have been a bit startling). I love how some buildings (not many) evacuated, like **pbbth** ’s, yet it was perfectly ok to go underground into the subway. No delays. For those of you wondering how to react to any sort of natural disaster, how about simply react in proportion to the incident. Tornadoes (which I’ve never experienced) are f’n scary beasts. The midwest monsters should be properly prepared for, and if encountering one, freaking out is _not_ the appropriate response. On the other hand, a little Brooklyn funnel cloud (which happens about every other year or so) that lasts maybe a minute should not be treated like a nuclear meltdown. Same with earthquakes. If NYC actually has one (and what hit here barely qualifies), evacuating buildings and I head to some of the few open areas available (if in Manhattan). **beckwall** , that plan is good for any sort of disaster. East coasters are much more likely to get hit with hurricanes and what we call nor’easters, which are essentially mini-hurricanes. I’m guessing our faults are different from west coast faults (which is also why earthquakes are very rare up here, maybe one every 5-10 years that is lucky to reach a 4-5), and aftershocks are not as big a deal. Our plates just don’t slide like the west coast plates. But I’ll find out more on the news tonight. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/145 "2011-08-23T21:08:57Z")
Suitland, MD - the building shook pretty good up on the 7th floor. We were all going, "holy cow - what was _that??_ then someone pulled up the USGS earthquake page, which must do an auto-update because it had it right away. Took nearly 20 minutes for the building manager to get around to telling us to evacuate. Figured at that point I could take another 2-3 minutes to shut down my computer and get all my stuff together before heading out the door. The Federal government did early dismissal in the DC area; will decide by 4am tomorrow whether we’re expected to show up in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/146 "2011-08-23T21:13:43Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Has anyone been watching FOX? Wonder when they will confirm this is Obama’s **fault** for going on vacation… I see what you did there… ---
**Author:** ![geneb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e4f/32.png) [@geneb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geneb)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/147 "2011-08-23T21:15:03Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > I’m probably 60 miles from the epicenter-anybody closer? My parents used to live about 4.5 miles from the epicenter. They moved earlier in the year, though. Now they’re about 25 miles from it. My grandparents are about 20 miles from it. According to them it was violent shaking for about 15 seconds. Pictures falling off of the wall, tables walking their way across the room, etc. No injuries or permanent damage (aside from broken glass in picture frames) to tell of. ETA: They shut down the nuclear power plant that is nearby as well (as a precaution). Not sure if that is still the case. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/148 "2011-08-23T21:31:08Z")
**Moon Unit** definitely felt it at home (near Springfield VA). Phoned me, quite upset. I tried assuring her it was just a large truck but she was having none of that. I told her to step outside if she was worried; she said “I already did!”. Smart kid. Fortunately, just then our next-door neighbor also stepped out and I spoke with her briefly; I think knowing she was there reassured Moon Unit. **Dweezil** and I were driving to the dentist when this happened and didn’t feel any shaking. If Moon Unit hadn’t phoned me, I’d have wondered why everyone was standing outside the office building we walked past on the way into the dentist’s office. Conversation after **Typo Knig** got home: TK: Well, baby, did the earth move??? :::wink wink, nudge nudge::: Me: I didn’t feel a thing! TK, crestfallen: We gotta talk. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/149 "2011-08-23T21:34:23Z")
Oh - and we don’t appear to have suffered any property damage. I checked some hanging pictures and they aren’t even crooked (nor did any of the wineglasses break). ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/150 "2011-08-23T21:36:43Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > It’s been years since I’ve done any reading on this, but my fuzzy memory thinks it is because the ground is much harder, so the vibrations don’t get absorbed as readily. They just confirmed this on the news. They used the term “spongy” for the west coast, so that it absorbs the vibrations more readily. It also means that aftershocks are not an appreciable risk. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/151 "2011-08-23T21:39:16Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > They just confirmed this on the news. They used the term “spongy” for the west coast, so that it absorbs the vibrations more readily. It also means that aftershocks are not an appreciable risk. I’m confused. Something described as “spongy” and “absorbs vibrations” would seem like it would dampen down vibrations, preventing them from propagating, and therefore preventing them from feeling very big any distance away from the epicenter. While harder ground would seem to let things get magnified. What am I missing? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/152 "2011-08-23T21:39:47Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > The damage reports were in, for NYC. I think a few pens rolled off of desks, maybe a cell phone on the edge of a table fell off and cracked. As I was not in VA or DC, nor was I watching the reactions from those areas, I cannot comment on their level of reaction. NYers, however, should behave better. The fucking elevated subways\* sway more when a train approaches (though I imagine if one was up on an elevated platform, that might have been a bit startling). Behave better than what? Were there hysterical screaming mobs that I missed? Because mostly what I saw was a bunch of excited people talking about how they’d just experienced their first earthquake. ---
**Author:** ![Bewildebeest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bewildebeest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bewildebeest)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/153 "2011-08-23T21:42:25Z")
I’m in Silver Spring, MD. The water main around the corner broke. That’s not unusual for WSSC. Other than that, no other visible damage. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/154 "2011-08-23T21:43:12Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > I’m confused. Something described as “spongy” and “absorbs vibrations” would seem like it would dampen down vibrations, preventing them from propagating, and therefore preventing them from feeling very big any distance away from the epicenter. While harder ground would seem to let things get magnified. > > What am I missing? 😕 **SenorBeef** was asking why this was felt so widespread on the East Coast when West Coast earthquakes are more localized. The East Coast has ‘harder’ ground, so the vibrations travel farther. Spongy ground in the west better absorbs the vibrations. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/155 "2011-08-23T21:45:42Z")
> [@Bewildebeest](#): > > I’m in Silver Spring, MD. The water main around the corner broke. That’s not unusual for WSSC. > > Other than that, no other visible damage. Where at in SS? I work down at the NOAA buildings near the Metro. I was in a meeting in the auditorium and a few things fell from the ceiling. I don’t know what they were though. We thought it was a train at first, then came some extra shocks. It took me over 2 hours to get home. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/156 "2011-08-23T21:51:34Z")
North Anna Nuclear is shut down and on emergency power, due to loss of grid power. It was designed to withstand a 5.9-6.2 quake. ---
**Author:** ![Bewildebeest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bewildebeest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bewildebeest)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/157 "2011-08-23T22:08:53Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > Where at in SS? Near Franklin Ave & University Blvd. The break is on Franklin. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/158 "2011-08-23T22:11:16Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > **SenorBeef** was asking why this was felt so widespread on the East Coast when West Coast earthquakes are more localized. The East Coast has ‘harder’ ground, so the vibrations travel farther. Spongy ground in the west better absorbs the vibrations. OK - my brain got turned around - thanks for the clarification. What about the aftershocks though? “It also means that aftershocks are not an appreciable risk.” - does that mean East Coast has less risk or West Coast does? And why would the harder ground make the East Coast _less_ likely to feel them? Clearly, IANAS(iesmologist). ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/159 "2011-08-23T22:19:29Z")
:o YYYYY AAAAAAA WWWWWWW NNNNNN. Oh, I live in the SF Bay Area. So there was a slight tremor on the East Coast? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803/160 "2011-08-23T22:21:42Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > **SenorBeef** was asking why this was felt so widespread on the East Coast when West Coast earthquakes are more localized. The East Coast has ‘harder’ ground, so the vibrations travel farther. Spongy ground in the west better absorbs the vibrations. exactly. the west coast is fractured, mostly due to all the 'quaking going on. the east coast is a more solid rock, with a lot of granite. the 'quake waves on the west coast get interrupted by the fracturing and don’t “sing” too far away. 'quakes on the east coast “sing” like the biggest loudest opera singer up and down the coast, there aren’t that many fractures to stop the vibrations, and granite is a really good rock for carrying waves. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-just-have-an-earthquake/593803.md?page=9)