Share your East Coast Quake story!

Yes, yes – we’re ok here in North Carolina, but that doesn’t mean someΒ  high rise buildings in the area didn’t shake during the Mineral, VA 5.8 earthquake that happened earlier today.Β  In Concord, where I was at the time, I didn’t feel anything but my sister works at a high rise in uptown Charlotte and she texted me to tell me her building shook. Yikes!Β  I hear the Charlotte/Concord area is on a major fault line and if we were ever to be directly impacted by an earthquake of that magnitude, the results could be catastrophic.Β Β  I’m also hearing that some liberals are also blaming the “Bush Fault” line for today’s earth-shaker …

Details on the quake, via Fox News:

An unusually strong magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck central Virginia Tuesday afternoon and sent tremors along the East Coast, which prompted office buildings from Washington D.C. to New York to be evacuated.

There were no immediate reports of injury or serious structural damage.

The earthquake struck near Mineral, Va., more than three miles below sea level, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Mineral is town 83 miles from D.C. and has been known for its seismic activity, but seldom produces a substantial earthquake.

Most of downtown D.C. was evacuated, including the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon and other office buildings. Pictures on the wall in the Capitol building reportedly fell and panicked workers ran to the exits, apparently fearing a 9/11-style attack. Workers were initially told not to re-enter the buildings, but were later allowed to enter the Capitol building.

Marine helicopters were seen hovering above the D.C, and there were reports that the Washington Monument may be tilting.

The press corp with President Obama in Martha’s Vineyard said they felt slight shaking. Obama told reporters that he did not feel the tremor. Attorney General Eric Holder has been evacuated from the Department of Justice.

Obama and many of the nation’s leaders were out of town on August vacation when the quake struck at 1:51 p.m. local time.

“People pouring out of buildings and onto the sidewalks and Into Farragut Park in downtown DC…,” GOP strategist Kevin Madden tweeted, MyFoxDC.com reported.

At Reagan National Airport outside Washington, ceiling tiles fell during a few seconds of shaking. Authorities put all flights on hold.

A spokesman for Washington National Cathedral said at least three of the four pinnacles on the central tower have fallen off and the central tower appears to be leaning.

New York also felt tremors from the earthquake.

Buildings in New York City shook briefly and the FBI building was evacuated. Flights resumed at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Airport, where control towers were previously evacuated. Evacuations were demanded as north as Canada.

Federal officials say two nuclear reactors were taken offline near quake site in Virginia; there was no damage reported. Indian Point, a power plant in New York, said on Twitter that there are no issues at the facility.Β 

To no one’s surprise, an “I Survived The East Coast Quake” Facebook page has already been created. ;)

Are youΒ in area on the East Coast that wasΒ impacted by the earthquake?Β Β If so – this is your “where were you when this happened?” moment.Β  Let us know what happened. :)

Meanwhile,Β HurricaneΒ Irene edges towards the North Carolina and South Carolina coasts:

MIAMI, FL. — Irene has lost some of its punch and is now a Category 1 hurricane. But the storm remains likely to regain strength and become a major hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center said Tuesday afternoon that Irene had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (145 kph) as it lashed the Turks and Caicos Islands. Updated projections had the storm moving farther east than before, but models still show Irene could make landfall in North Carolina over the weekend.

Irene’s center was 50 miles (80 kilometers) south-southwest of Grand Turk Island. It was moving west-northwest at 9 mph (15 kph).

Evacuations begin

Authorities on North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island have issued a mandatory evacuation order for visitors to leave starting at 5 a.m. Wednesday as Hurricane Irene approaches.

Officials said Tuesday that a mandatory evacuation order for all non-emergency personnel will go into effect Thursday morning for the barrier island, which is only accessible by boat.

Stay safe, my coastal friends …

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