Prayers for those affected by the earthquake

[Daniel L. Gard]

While awaiting further news and analysis of the eastern seaboard earthquake, may I suggest that we all pray for those affected?

Hopefully, someone in the affected areas can update us on their situation.

Kyrie eleison!

[Harvey_Mozolak]

tis amazing how far it is felt... here in Pittsburgh, I in the basement/garage felt the car I was unloading move and sway and my wife upstairs felt recliner move... the vent on the clothes drier fell off.... obviously nothing but for so many miles away to feel the earth with a belly ache....   Harvey Mozolak

[James_Gale]

While awaiting further news and analysis of the eastern seaboard earthquake, may I suggest that we all pray for those affected?

Hopefully, someone in the affected areas can update us on their situation.

Kyrie eleison!

I'm in northwest DC.  There are no reports at this point of any serious injuries or serious structural problems.  The Metro is running, for example.  However, many buildings have been evacuated so that the engineering staffs can check things out.


As for how it felt, there was a short burst of shaking (maybe 5 seconds), a brief pause, and then a sustained, much stronger shaking (maybe 20-30 seconds).  Some items fell from the book shelf.


It was scary in part because you don't expect quakes like that here.  So the first fear is that something catastrophic is happening to the building.


In the coming days, they may find structural problems in older buildings, bridges, etc.  But I suspect that this will have passed without causing major harm either to people or to property.

[Dave Benke]

Just very weird in NYC.  I was under an elevated train track in my car near my parish.  So the car starts jumping back and forth, and my first thought is it's the train.  Which settles in OK, except that there's no train coming on the tracks.  Hmm.  So after a few seconds I open the window and shout out, "Hey cut it out" at the kids out there who, possibly knowing me, possibly not, are rocking the car.  No kids.  So I start up the car and move it.  Because it must be sitting on some little ridge so even the slightest breeze or vibration makes the car move.  Car is backed up, car keeps jumping back and forth for the duration of the seconds in the quake.  The one thought that never entered my mind was "earthquake." 

Prayers are definitely ascending for those whose lives were more dramatically and negatively impacted, but way, way north of the start-point, NYC had an earthquake 2day.

Dave Benke

[J. Thomas Shelley]

Felt very strong shaking for about 20-30 seconds in southern York County, PA, about 200 miles from the epicenter.

I had just parked my vehicle and rolled down the windows in order to "play" with some new technology and wondered why the car was shaking on a windless day, and parked well back and perpendicular to a local roadway so windwakes from a truck would not have caused the shaking.

I was about 1/2 mile from a small faultline called the Marctic Overthrust, which did have activity at sunset on Easter evening back in 1983.    Very creepy, that last one.

[J. Thomas Shelley]

In the coming days, they may find structural problems in older buildings, bridges, etc.  But I suspect that this will have passed without causing major harm either to people or to property.

One of the greatest concerns will be natural gas infrastructure, and some of that damage may not be discovered until after the first major freeze of winter.

[MaddogLutheran]

My experience, in the suburbs immediately northwest of Philadelphia, was similar to Pastor Shelley's in York County, PA.  I am on the 3rd floor of a 3-story suburban office building, not too large, but being on top may have amplified the quake's motion.  I saw a report that identified the epicenter near Charlottesville, VA.  I hope that all is well with "our" UVa Ph.D candidate, Pastor Yakimow.

[J.L. Precup]

Yes, it takes a few moments to reorient and realize what is going on.  I guess I've been unfortunate enough to live in places in the world where earthquakes are fairly common.  Thankfully, there have been only two times when I have had to go under an interior door frame and wait it out.

Nonetheless, this handy government internet site is on my desktop:  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/

I hope whatever frayed nerves maybe out there will settle down by dinner.

[Scott6]

Well, the epicenter was only about 30 or so miles away, and it was pretty exciting!  So far,me and the fam are enjoying a great afternoon party outside.  Only one aftershock that we could feel so far.  Wow!  For someone who never felt that before, it was a rush!

[Scott6]

Strike that -- about 15-20 miles away.

[JMerrell]

Felt it in Upstate SC, called a friend of mine in VA and so far no injuries reported where he is.

[Steverem]

Up here in northern Virginia, we're doing our best to pick up the pieces and move forward with our lives.   

(Seriously--glad there doesn't seem to be any real damage as a result of this.  Gave the building a good excuse to go outside and enjoy a beautiful afternoon for a half-hour or so.)

[Charles_Austin]

Was at a movie. Didn't feel a thing.

[MRoot]

The only damage being shown on local news is some finials on the spire of the Episcopal National Cathedral that fell off.  Older buildings (such as where my office is) evacuated to check for structural damage.  Massive traffic jams, since many government and other offices suddenly let out for the day early.

[Steverem]

Was at a movie. Didn't feel a thing.

Well that certainly speaks poorly of the movie, doesn't it?