New Yorkers are used to many things including extreme weather, but not an earthquake. A quake in central Virginia caused most of the eastern seaboard to shake—some reports said as many as 20 states felt the shocks—causing fear and excitement throughout the city.
The U.S. Geological Survey said a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit Mineral, Virginia shortly before 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Shocks were felt throughout the eastern United States, and in the initial confusion, many buildings, including the White House and Pentagon, were evacuated.
In the city—experiencing its first earthquake in decades—City Hall was briefly evacuated, and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.’s press conference announcing the dropping of sexual assault charges on Dominique Strauss-Kahn—expected to be the top story for the city’s news media—was disrupted. Flights were also grounded at John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty airports. The MTA, however, reported no difficulties or structural damages to the subways or bridges.
“I panicked,” a frightened Howard Beach homeowner told The Forum. “I just heard different things rattling.”
Once details emerged—the city reported that there was no damage or injuries from the shake and Governor Andrew Cuomo, who said he did not feel the shocks, said the state’s power plants and infrastructure was in tact—most residents resumed their day with one great topic of conversation: “Did you feel it?”
The earthquake, one of the largest on the east coast in more than a decade, caused no extensive damage or injuries in Virginia or elsewhere.
By Eric Yun
