August 23rd, 2011
04:06 PM ET

Earthquake shuts down Virginia nuclear plant

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck Tuesday afternoon near Washington, D.C., the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The epicenter was in Mineral, Virginia. The quake was four miles deep, according to the USGS. Did you feel it? Send CNN an iReport.

To get complete coverage and all the latest updates, click on CNN's main story here. View a CNN Open Story about the quake. CNN Open Story combines iReports with reports from CNNers across the globe on a map and timeline.

Update 3:36 p.m. ET: Terminal A at Washington Reagan National Airport has been evacuated because of an odor of gas, airport spokeswoman Courtney Mickalonis said. Initial sweeps of the building showed no major damage from the earthquake.

Light structural damage has been reported in Culpepper and Orange counties in Virginia, said Laura Southard of the state Emergency Operations Center. She said there have been no reports of injuries in Virginia.

Update 3:28 p.m. ET: The White House and adjacent buildings evacuated as a precaution following the earthquake have been given the all-clear, the U.S. Secret Service said. The FBI and Justice Department have also reopened evacuated buildings.

Update 3:25 p.m. ET: East Coast residents should be prepared to feel aftershocks from Tuesday's earthquake, a U.S. Geological Survey official said.

Update 3:22 p.m. ET: The North Anna nuclear power plant, located 20 miles from the epicenter, is shut down and in a safe condition, a company official and the Louisa County public information office report. There has been no release of nuclear material, Louisa County spokeswoman Amanda Reidelbach said.

Update 3:04 p.m. ET: All national monuments and parks in Washington are "stable but closed" following Tuesday's earthquake, a United States Park Police spokesman Sgt. David Schlosser said. A couple of minor injuries and some minor structural damage have been reported in Washington, following Tuesday's earthquake, according to Schlosser.

Part of the central tower of the National Cathedral, the highest point in Washington, was damaged, according to spokesman Richard Weinberg. "It looks like three of the pinnacles have broken off the central tower," Weinberg told CNN.

Update 3:02 p.m. ET: Amtrak is reporting service disruptions between Washington and Baltimore because of the earthquake, the company reported on Twitter.

Aftershocks are a concern, U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Lucy Jones told CNN. "People should be expecting (them), especially over the next hour or two," she said.

The quake was felt in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York City and on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, where President Barack Obama is vacationing. It's unknown if the president felt the quake.

The Pentagon has been evacuated, CNN's Barbara Starr reports. "When the building began shaking rather violently, hundreds of people began streaming out," she said, because many people thought that the building was under attack. Starr was standing in the Pentagon's press office when the roof started to shake.

Cell phone service has been disrupted in New York City, CNN learned within minutes of the quake.

Updated 2:47 p.m. ET: A "considerable amount" of water from a water pipe has flooded two corridors of the Pentagon, according to an announcement in the building. People who work in those areas are being asked to stay in their offices while workers try to repair the damage.

The National Cathedral in Washington is damaged, CNN has confirmed.

And Dominion Generation, which operates the North Anna nuclear power station in central Virginia a few miles from the epicenter of the earthquake, is trying to reach operational staff at the plant, according to a company spokesman. Landlines to the plant appear to be down.

Shortly after the quake struck, traders in the New York Stock Exchange also felt the quake and shouted to each other, "Keep trading!" CNN's business correspondent Alison Kosik reported from the floor at 2:20 p.m. E.T.

Twitter traffic suggests the quake was felt all over the East Coast.

In Philadelphia, HunterPence3 tweeted, "Wow Earthquake just shook the entire locker room!"

In Cleveland, "tribeinsider" wrote "I'm no expert but i think we just had an earthquake here."

And even in Toronto, Canada, tweets said that the shaking could be felt for minutes.

Pete Krech, who works at a business in Fredericksburg, Virginia, likened the sensation to being on a jolting amusement ride. "I was receiving a supply truck," said Krech, store manager at Mattress Warehouse of Fredericksburg, south of Washington. "I felt a vibration under my feet."

Brendan Wein, a sales representative at Hoffman Nursery in Roxboro, North Carolina, said he thought there was a helicopter flying above his work building.  "I was literally shaking in my chair," he said.

CNN iReporter Jeff Yapalater said he was in his backyard in New York's Long Island when the earthquake hit. "Suddenly I felt this light swaying of the Earth. I'd never felt that before, so I thought maybe I was experiencing vertigo for a moment, and it lasted maybe 30 seconds ... We're feeling this really far away!" he wrote.

 Post by: ,
Filed under: District of Columbia • Earthquake • Natural Disasters • Virginia
soundoff (12,567 Responses)
  1. connie levang

    There was also a quake 5.0 outside of Montreal at almost the same time.... I felt it while on my laptop (here on business)

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • Michael K

      Felt it in Northport NY for about 2 minutes..whole house shook

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Cilla

    We felt it in Mooresville, NC

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • Sue

      We felt it in Maumee OHIO

      August 23, 2011 at 2:09 pm | Report abuse |
    • jbed

      felt by online friends in NY, near detroit, MI, and Southwestern PA

      August 23, 2011 at 2:09 pm | Report abuse |
    • Ray

      We felt it all the way in greenwich, CT!

      August 23, 2011 at 2:09 pm | Report abuse |
    • Brittany

      Felt in Huntington, WV

      August 23, 2011 at 2:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • Danielle

      Felt in Northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati, Ohio area

      August 23, 2011 at 2:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kristine Rasmussen

      Felt it here in McGuire AFB, New Jersey. Freaked me out...

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Annlea

      Felt in Columbus Ohio

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kim

      We felt it in Dayton, Ohio

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • devin

      We felt it in Altoona, Pa

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Annelise

      Felt it in Blacksburg, VA

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jess

      Felt in Burlington, VT

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • jmsclrk

      We felt it here in Saratoga, NY 150 miles north of New York City

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Louise Zecha

      We felt it in Baltimore, MD

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • james

      me to here in phila.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • Bubba

      Buildings in Augusta Ga were evacuated due to the shaking as well.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mike

      Felt in Florence, SC

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • john weir

      We felt it as a slow side to side motion for 20-30 seconds, very smooth slow rocking motion, no damage, in toronto,ontario canada and a small quick succession after shock of 5-8 seconds like shuttering feeling

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • elisa

      our high rise building in downtown CIncinnati felt it....things were falling off our walls on the upper floor...desks moved

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • Bill

      I felt it in mint Hill, NC!

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • Dave P

      We felt it pretty good here in Whithouse Station, NJ

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jamaica

      felt it here in keyport nj

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Chantal

      Felt it in Concord, Ontario, Canada (north of Toronto).

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Tom Doleys

      Felt it in Atlanta, Georgia.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Erin

      Felt it in Athens, GA.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Angie

      I work in Charlotte NC and felt it in my chair and also I have friends and family in Denver and Maiden NC that has called stating that they also felt it...

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • George

      Also in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • mallrutz

      Small tremor in Fayetteville NC

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Ed

      We felt it in Warren Michigan.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Frank

      I felt it here too in Moon Township (Pittsburgh) PA sometime @ 1:55PM.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • JC

      felt it in Toronto Canada

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Nicole Roberts

      I was working in my office in the home and I was yelling up to my son to see if he was shaking something and he ran down to tell me his bed was shaking, I thought it was the dryer in the basement.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Genia

      here in Graham NC and hubby felt it in Mebane NC

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Ann

      Felt in Pittsburgh PA

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Liza

      We felt it in East Tennessee!!

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • kelly

      felt in Michigan!

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Joe

      I did not feel it in California.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • mark turbitt

      Maryland, felt like my house was coming apart

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Lane Hamilton

      Felt it in Columbus, OH.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Patrick

      Felt it in Camp Lejeune, NC.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • DeeDee

      Freaky! We felt it at the US Steel Tower in Pittsburgh.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Tanga Nichelson

      We felt tremors here in Charleston WV

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • David P

      We felt it up here in Toronto Canada. We don't get many earthquakes here, I can remember 3 in 32 years.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • JT

      We felt it in Farmington, CT

      August 23, 2011 at 2:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • sel

      Felt it here in Lancaster, Ohio.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • Khall

      Felt it in Augusta, Ga

      August 23, 2011 at 2:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • K STEPHENS

      WE FELT IT IN FLORENCE, SC

      August 23, 2011 at 2:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • K

      Felt in John's Creek GA.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kashan Davis

      We felt in in Burlington Nj...

      August 23, 2011 at 2:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • April (Richmond, VA)

      I DEFINITELY FELT THE QUAKE! My husband is inspecting our home now!

      August 23, 2011 at 2:20 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Ray Spencer

    Tremors could be felt in Pinnacle, NC. Any info as to what city in VA?

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kate

      mineral, va

      August 23, 2011 at 2:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • jenn

      Mineral VA–about 60 miles outside of Richmond

      August 23, 2011 at 2:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mindy

      we felt it in Sterling and Leesburg, VA

      August 23, 2011 at 2:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • kathryn

      about 34 miles north of richmond

      August 23, 2011 at 2:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • Alicia G

      The epicenter was in Mineral Virginia

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • pete

      Felt in Henrico county, Richmond

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Cody

      Mineral, VA was the center.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Luke

      Just NW of Richmond

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kim

      http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Maps/US2/37.39.-79.-77.php

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • Anonymous

      Apparently the epicenter was in mineral va

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • Katie

      Ray-
      Felt it in Richmond.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • nrsoul713

      Louisa VA according to USGS

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • Elise Dee Beraru

      We felt it for well over a minute in Lynchburg, VA, which is about 45 miles south of Charlottesville and 4 hours drive south of Washington DC. It shook for a long time, but it was mild compared to EQ's I experienced in 1971 and 1994 in Southern California.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • jess

      Felt here in Pompton Lakes NJ!

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • James

      Epicenter is 6 km (4 miles) SSE (152°) from Louisa, VA
      http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Quakes/usc0005ild.php

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Gray Edwards

      Evidently it was close to Charlottesville.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • What

      Earthquake was just outside Mineral, VA, which is a short distance northwest of Richmond.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Donald Georgette

      Quake epicenter was east of Charlottesville, VA according to U.S. Geologic Survey. My bed shook like the Exorcist up here in Baltimore.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Pam

      Mineral VA, Louisa County

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Murphy

      yep we felt it here in Norfolk Va

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Eric

      They're saying the epicenter was in Fredericksburg, VA.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Terry

      Pretty strong here in Richmond, VA.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • bp

      We definitely felt it in Va Beach.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • laura

      I'm in Fairfax, VA, and my whole house was shaking.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Me

      Not sure if we were at the epicenter but it was pretty strong in Richmond.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Anastasia Priest

      Richmond.

      We felt it too here, on the eastern shore of Maryland, but it was just a gentle rocking. A friend in Stanton, VA said the doors were falling off the hinges at her school. A comment on here says it was felt in Ontario! That's insane.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mike Marshall

      4 miles southwest of Mineral, Virginia. This is right near and the nuclear power point at Lake Anna, Virginia.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Ken Jordan

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

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • classic

      i'm in richmond virginia, it shook our whole office building, it looks like the epicenter is just northwest around charlottesville, va where UVA is located

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • david

      according to the earthquake center, near charlottesville

      August 23, 2011 at 2:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • Sally

      NW of Richmond, according to USGS coordinates are: 37.975°N, 77.969°W

      August 23, 2011 at 2:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • Kristen

      I read somewhere it was Mineral, VA.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mary Jane henley

      It cracked our foundation around our house........

      August 23, 2011 at 2:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • Romona

      Mineral, VA.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:18 pm | Report abuse |
    • john

      mineral,va

      August 23, 2011 at 2:24 pm | Report abuse |
    • Lisa

      I heard between Richmond and Charlottesville.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:25 pm | Report abuse |
    • RBRowning

      Looks like it was right down the road from Charlottesville, Va

      August 23, 2011 at 2:26 pm | Report abuse |
  4. PHCW

    Felt it here in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • Craig

      Ditto for Waterloo, Ontario...

      August 23, 2011 at 2:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • R

      Waterloo, ON felt it as well...

      August 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • ellaroxs

      felt it in St.Catharines Ontario!!!!

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • JD

      It was felt here in Toronto, Ontario!!

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • WH

      And London ON too

      August 23, 2011 at 2:17 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Tsawyer

    We felt it here too in central North Carolina.

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • Gigner

      Yes!! Felt it in Winston Salem, North Carolina

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Eric

    People from Wilmington, DE felt the quake thats so odd...

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
  7. JoebenJB

    Felt in Morgantown WV...

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • Sandra Swackhamer

      We felt it here in Parkersburg WV, also a small aftershock.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • BeckleyGal

      Felt in Beckley, WV as well...

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
  8. NCGurl

    It was felt in Greenville, NC too!

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
  9. IndianAmerican

    Felt it in Teaneck, NJ, as did folks in central Jersey.

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • Muti007

      In Mt. Laurel NJ too

      August 23, 2011 at 2:15 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Kim Milbrath

    partner's building in Midtown was evacuated because of the shaking.

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Hoosier

    We felt it in Indiana.

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mary

      Quit lying, no you didn't.

      August 23, 2011 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • jfk

      what part

      August 23, 2011 at 2:19 pm | Report abuse |
    • ind

      mary are you from aolumbus indiana

      August 23, 2011 at 2:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • ind

      mary are you from indiana

      August 23, 2011 at 2:59 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Traece

    Strong here in Long Island, NY!

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
  13. KRhodes

    Shake was felt in West Virginia in Charleston, Parkersburg & Ravenswood.

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • jkeczan

      and Morgantown

      August 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
  14. dpence

    Felt it in Troy, Ohio

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Marilou

    We are in New Bedford, MA and felt it here – shocking and glad we didn't get the full 5.8 – hoping news reports are no one injured.

    August 23, 2011 at 2:08 pm | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754
« Back to main