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2011 Virginia earthquake
Shake map showing the epicenter of the earthquake in Virginia
Shake map
Epicenter is located in United States
Epicenter
Date 17:51:04 UTC, August 23, 2011[1]
Magnitude 5.8[1]
Depth 4 mi (6 km)[1]
Epicenter 37°56′10″N 77°55′59″W / 37.936°N 77.933°W / 37.936; -77.933Coordinates: 37°56′10″N 77°55′59″W / 37.936°N 77.933°W / 37.936; -77.933
Type Earthquake
Countries or regions Canada, United States
Max. intensity VII (very strong)[2]

The 2011 Virginia earthquake occurred on August 23, 2011, at 1:51 pm EDT (17:51 UTC) in the Piedmont region of the US state of Virginia. 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 magnitude of 5.8 and a maximum perceived intensity of VII (very strong) on the Mercalli intensity scale. Several aftershocks, ranging up to 4.5 Mw in magnitude, occurred after the main tremor.

The earthquake, along with a magnitude–5.8 quake on the New York–Ontario border in 1944, is the largest to have occurred in the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains since a quake centered in Giles County in western Virginia occurred in 1897,[3] with an estimated magnitude of 5.8.[4]

The quake was felt across more than a dozen U.S. states and in several Canadian provinces. No deaths and only minor injuries were reported. Minor damage to buildings was widespread and was estimated by one risk-modeling firm at $200 million to $300 million, of which about $100 million was insured.[5][6]

Contents

Geology

Cross-sectional illustration of normal and reverse dip-slip faults.
Generalized geologic map of the central Virginia Piedmont with faults and earthquakes (M>2, 1973–2011).

The earthquake occurred in the Virginia Seismic Zone, located in the Piedmont region.[7] The Virginia Piedmont area was originally formed as part of a zone of repeated continental collision that created the ancestral Appalachian Mountains, a process that started in the Ordovician period with the Taconic orogeny and finished in the Carboniferous Period with the Alleghenian orogeny. The reverse faults formed during the various orogenies were partly reactivated as normal faults in extension during the Mesozoic Era as the supercontinent Pangaea broke apart. During the Cenozoic Era, compression from the opening and spreading of the Atlantic has caused some of these structures to be reactivated in a reverse sense.[8]

The earthquake's epicenter and most of the aftershocks lie between the surface traces of two structures, the Spotsylvania Fault, a southeast dipping zone of high ductile strain, and the Chopawamsic Fault, a thrust fault.[9] The earthquake's focal mechanism shows reverse slip faulting on a north to northeast striking fault plane. The spatial distribution of aftershocks show that the causative fault dips to the southeast at 50–55°. There was no surface faulting associated with the earthquake.[10] The size of the rupture is as yet uncalculated, but similar quakes have been caused by slippage along fault segments that are 3.1 to 9.3 mi (5 to 15 km) long.[1]

After the earthquake, several websites speculated about whether hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural gas production could have caused or contributed to the quake.[11][12][13] Although there were no fracking operations underway in Virginia at the time of the quake, fracking was taking place in the Marcellus shale in West Virginia, a neighboring state.[14] According to United States Geological Survey (USGS) geologist James Coleman, there is evidence that fracking "causes relatively small earthquakes," but "smaller than what we had here in Virginia."[11]

Aftershocks

Numerous aftershocks followed the main tremor. The first four (of magnitude 2.8, 2.2, 4.2 and 3.4) occurred within 12 hours of the main shock. A 2.5-magnitude shock occurred just after midnight on August 25, followed at 1:08 am EST by the strongest: a magnitude-4.5 aftershock that woke many residents in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. and was felt as far away as New England, Georgia, and Illinois.[15][16][17][18]

Impact

Main article: Impact of the 2011 Virginia earthquake

Tremors from the Virginia earthquake were felt as far south as Atlanta, Georgia;[19] as far north as Quebec City, Quebec;[20] as far west as Illinois[21] and as far east as Fredericton, New Brunswick,[22] with damage reported as far away as Brooklyn in New York City.[23]

Although earthquakes in the central and eastern U.S. are much less frequent than in the western U.S., they are typically felt over a much broader region. East of the Rocky Mountains, an earthquake can be felt over an area as much as ten times larger than a similar magnitude earthquake on the west coast. Western rock is relatively young, therefore it absorbs a lot of the shaking caused by earthquakes. Thus, western earthquakes result in intense shaking close to the epicenter, but fade more quickly the farther the earthquakes travel. In the eastern United States the rock is far older, and the earthquake energy can therefore spread farther and have a greater impact. A magnitude 5.5 eastern U.S. earthquake can usually be felt as far as 300 mi (483 km) from where it occurred, and sometimes causes damage as far away as 25 mi (40 km). The relatively shallow depth of this quake also contributed to its widespread effects.[24][25]

United States

Soon after the earthquake, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration ordered a ground stop along the East Coast, causing some flight delays. The Air Traffic Control tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport was evacuated.[26] Flights were delayed at several airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Dulles International Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport.[27] At Ronald Reagan National Airport, ceiling tiles fell in one terminal, and flights were halted.[28][29][30]

A spike in cell-phone calls immediately after the event congested the AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile USA, and Frontier Communications networks in the Mid-Atlantic region, causing disruptions and loss of service for up to an hour after the earthquake.[31][32]

Virginia

The epicenter of the earthquake was in Louisa County, Virginia, where damage was greatest and several minor injuries occurred. The town of Mineral, located 5 mi (8 km) south-southwest from the earthquake's epicenter, reported the collapse of two buildings, as well as minor damage to several other structures, including the collapse of the ceiling in its Town Hall. Only minor injuries were reported, including the hospitalization of several people reporting chest pains related to the shock of the experience.[33] Fallen chimneys and other structural damage to buildings was also reported in Louisa, the county seat. The Gilboa Christian Church, in Cuckoo, was heavily damaged and rendered unusable.[34] At Louisa County High School, cinderblocks fell in classrooms, and cracks were seen in walls. Six students had minor injuries. Louisa County schools were closed on August 24 while engineers assessed damage to school buildings.[35] The high school and Thomas Jefferson Elementary were closed for the remainder of the school year.[36] Inspections revealed that 65 homes sustained major or severe damage and 125 homes experienced mild to moderate damage.[37] Damage in Louisa County was estimated at $80.6 million, of which $63.8 million was from damage to public school buildings and $14.7 million was from damage to residences.[38][39] On August 25, county officials declared a state of local emergency in order to allow them to request state support.[37]

Multiple reactor sensors at the North Anna Nuclear Generating Station, located 10 mi (16 km) northeast of the epicenter, detected a slight power reduction as a result of vibrations in the reactor or monitoring devices. This caused the two nuclear reactors to automatically shut down seconds before off-site power was lost.[39][40][41] The Nuclear Regulatory Commission sent additional inspectors to the Virginia plant after preliminary measurements suggested that the ground shook more than the two reactors were designed to handle. The damage was minimal and the NRC advised that further inspections should not be interpreted to mean that the plant was not safe.[42][43]

In Charlottesville, about 27 mi (43 km) west of the epicenter, a gas leak closed several streets, including West Main Street.[44]

Some employees evacuated the Pentagon moments after the earthquake.

In Spotsylvania County, the August 24 opening of public schools was delayed while damage to buildings was assessed.[45] Six patients were treated at the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center for minor injuries resulting from the earthquake.[35]

Several buildings in Culpeper, about 37 mi (60 km) north of the epicenter, sustained structural damage. The brick façade of the Levy Building, built in 1848, collapsed and the building was condemned and demolished.[37][46][47] The walls of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, constructed in 1821, buckled and were deemed unstable by town officials. Another church, Culpeper Baptist Church, built in 1894, lost its chimney. Schools in Culpeper County delayed their scheduled August 24 opening to assess damage to buildings.[45] Two minor earthquake injuries were reported by the Culpeper Regional Hospital.[46] Damage in Culpeper was estimated at $10 million.[39]

In Fredericksburg, about 37 mi (60 km) northeast of the epicenter, the Dickinson Building on the campus of Germanna Community College was deemed unusable for the rest of the semester, and the whole college was closed until alternative classrooms could be found, re-opening on September 6.[48] Also in Fredericksburg, a gas leak led to the evacuation of homes and businesses in a two-block radius.[35] Officials estimated the damage total at around $711,000.[39]

In Arlington County, a burst pipe flooded two corridors at the Pentagon. Employees, many of whom left the building when the earthquake was felt, were alerted to the flooding by an alarm system that was installed after the September 11 attacks.[49] Nearby Alexandria also reported structual damages, though no injuries.[50]

Washington, D.C.

Washington Monument 2011 Earthquake security 1.ogv
Security video in the Washington Monument during the quake.

The White House,[51] the Capitol, and various other buildings were evacuated. The afternoon rush hour was affected, with some traffic lights out,[52] and the Washington Metro system's trains ran at reduced speeds while tracks and tunnels were inspected.[53]

A National Park Service spokesperson reported that surveys revealed cracks near the top of the Washington Monument, the world's tallest stone structure, which was closed indefinitely.[52][54] The quake damaged three of the four pinnacles (corner spires) on the central tower of the Washington National Cathedral, cracked some of its flying buttresses, and caused additional damage.[55][56][57] As the cathedral's insurance policy did not cover earthquake damage, cathedral officials stated that they would need to raise millions of dollars to fully evaluate the damage and to stabilize and repair its limestone exterior.[57]

Repair work at the central tower of the Washington National Cathedral due to damage caused by the earthquake.
Damage to the Embassy of Ecuador.

The Smithsonian Castle incurred damage to five decorative turrets, and fifty jars of preserved specimens fell from shelves at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.[58] The Embassy of Ecuador suffered structural damage, including three collapsed chimneys and cracked internal walls.[59] The Treasury Building suffered minor damage to exterior railings, some of which fell to the ground and caused closure of a sidewalk.[60] Fire department officials in Washington reported numerous minor injuries as a result of the quake.[61]

Staff at the National Zoo reported that some of the animals in the park exhibited unusual behavior in the seconds or even minutes before the quake. The earthquake was felt at the great ape exhibits during afternoon feeding time. About three to 10 seconds before the quake, many of the apes abandoned their food and climbed to the top of a tree-like structure in the exhibit. The red-ruffed lemurs sounded an alarm call about 15 minutes before the quake, and the flock of 64 flamingos rushed about and grouped themselves together just before the quake. During the quake, some animals made sounds, some ran or dove for cover, and some stood up and stared at the walls of their enclosures. Some of the animals remained agitated for the rest of the day, while others calmed quickly.[62][63]

Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia

Maryland: In Temple Hills, residents were evacuated from two damaged apartment buildings.[64] In Kensington, the tops of four spires on the Washington D.C. Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fell to the ground along with several pieces of marble from the façade.[65] Near Brunswick, the quake caused "significant discoloration and a reduction in the quality of the water" of a spring, leading officials to warn against using the water until further notice.[66] In the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore, St. Patrick Catholic Church was deemed unsafe and was scheduled to be closed for weeks for repairs.[67] In Salisbury, the City Police station endured damage above doorways and in concrete block walls,[68] and there was also minor cracking in classroom walls at Salisbury University.[69] In Annapolis, several buildings at the United States Naval Academy were damaged.[70] In Suitland, eight jars of preserved fish specimens fell from shelves at a Smithsonian Institution storage facility.[58] The 1740 Mt. Calvert Mansion, historic site and museum located on the Patuxent River in Upper Marlboro, received substantial structural damage and was closed indefinitely to the public.[71]

Delaware: In Wilmington, blocks fell to the street from the steeple of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, and the New Castle County Courthouse was evacuated, as was the air traffic control tower of the New Castle County Airport in nearby Wilmington Manor. Fire marshals and building inspectors were called to assess structures throughout Dover, the capital city, where the city hall was evacuated. Numerous buildings in Georgetown, the Sussex County seat, were evacuated while crews checked for damage; the Emergency Operations Center there reported 200 calls to 9-1-1. Delaware Department of Transportation crews were dispatched statewide to inspect interstate highways, the under-construction replacement Indian River Inlet Bridge, the Delaware Memorial Bridge on I-295, and other bridges and roads.[72]

West Virginia: In Martinsburg, several government buildings were evacuated, and multiple citizens reported feeling their homes shaking violently enough to rattle picture frames off the walls. In Charleston, the Kanawha County Courthouse, the West Virginia State Capitol campus, and several other downtown buildings were evacuated; Kanawha County dispatchers received more than 350 calls in 45 minutes, but there were no reports of damage to buildings and infrastructure other than minor plaster cracking in the old courthouse. In Philippi, part of a chimney collapsed at the Barbour County courthouse. The West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training stated that West Virginia coal mines were safe following the tremors.[73][74] A roof collapse in Patriot Coal Company's Big Mountain Complex forced the closure of the mine.[75]

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York

People gather outside 40 Wall Street in New York City after the earthquake.

Pennsylvania: Trembling was felt in buildings in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and across the state. In Center City Philadelphia, a window shattered on a lower floor at the Independence Blue Cross building, and the company sent its 3,000 employees home for the day.[76] Other office buildings in Center City Philadelphia were also evacuated following the earthquake.[77] Workers at the PPL Corporation in Allentown evacuated the building.[76] However, the Three Mile Island nuclear plant south of Harrisburg continued to operate during the earthquake.[76] The Bucks County Courthouse in Doylestown was evacuated following the earthquake.[78] In Philadelphia, SEPTA Regional Rail trains were restricted to a speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) while tracks were inspected for damage, and PATCO Speedline trains were briefly suspended, with no damage reported. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation inspected bridges across the state for damage. The Delaware River Port Authority reported no damage to its four bridges across the Delaware River.[79]

New Jersey: Damage in New Jersey was minor. The state Emergency Management office reported two gas leaks in Gloucester County.[80][81] In Burlington, Temple B'nai Israel's synagogue building, built in 1801, sustained some water damage when tremor-caused openings in the roof allowed standing water to leak in, and about 20 bricks fell, damaging a congregant's car.[81] In Camden, a vacant house partially collapsed, and government buildings were evacuated, with city workers given the option of returning home for the day.[81] Due to damage done by the quake, the municipal government of Woodbury reported that the historic Colonel George Gill Green Opera House, which was built in 1880, would be razed.[82] No other infrastructure damage was reported in the state.[81]

New York: Tremors were felt to varying degrees throughout New York State. Physical damage was seen in Brooklyn.[23] There were some disruptions, including building evacuations and delays at airports.[83] Amtrak train service at Penn Station was also delayed.[83]

New England

The earthquake was felt throughout much of the six New England states.[84] In New Haven, Connecticut, play at the 2011 New Haven Open at Yale tennis tournament was stopped for two hours and the main stadium was evacuated while the fire department checked it for damage. No damage or injuries were reported.[85] In Boston, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reported tremors and swaying buildings but no damage. The U.S. District Court in South Boston was evacuated and the University of Massachusetts Boston closed early.[86] In Maine, the earthquake was felt as far north as Augusta and Portland, but no damage was reported in the state.[87]

Midwestern states

In Columbus, Ohio the Huntington Center was briefly evacuated,[88] and occupants on the upper floors of the Rhodes State Office Tower and the Vern Riffe State Office Tower reported feeling strong shaking. Evacuations also occurred in Canton[89] and Akron.[90] In Cleveland, the press box at Progressive Field shook during the third inning of a Cleveland Indians baseball game.[91]

Tremors from the earthquake were felt as far north as Saginaw, Michigan,[92] and as far west as communities on Lake Michigan.[93] There were no reports of damage.[92] USGS also listed reports of tremors from as far west as Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.[84]

Southern states

The earthquake was felt in several southern states as far from the epicenter as Alabama, Georgia, and Florida,[84] but no damage was reported.

Canada

Tremors from the earthquake were also felt in eastern Canada, mostly in Southern Ontario, as well as in parts of southern Quebec and the Maritime provinces. In Ontario, a few buildings in Toronto were evacuated, and roads were closed as a precautionary measure in case of building collapse in Sudbury[84][94][95][96] and Windsor.[97] The year 2011 is the second consecutive year in which an earthquake was widely felt in Southern Ontario and Quebec, the previous being the June 2010 Central Canada Earthquake that also affected that region.

Internet activity and social media

The USGS "Did you feel it?" citizen-based earthquake intensity website received about 60,000 reports in the first two hours after the quake, and over 100,000 responses within four hours.[98]

According to Facebook, the word "earthquake" appeared in the status updates of 3 million users within four minutes of the quake. Twitter said users were sending up to 5,500 messages (tweets) per second, which tops the peak rate immediately following the death of Osama bin Laden and was "on par with" the rate after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[99]

Due to the significantly slower propagation of seismic waves compared to the near-speed-of-light transmission of internet traffic, some Twitter users read about the earthquake seconds before feeling the tremors. For example, Twitter users in such cities as New York City and Boston reported reading tweets about the quake from users in Washington, D.C., or Richmond, Virginia, 15 to 30 seconds before feeling the quake itself.[100]

Wikipedia had an article dedicated to the earthquake by 2:03 PM, 12 minutes after the event, and it was mentioned in two other Wikipedia articles even earlier.[101]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 2011 Virginia earthquake

References

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