Just one note for the East Coast and those making light of this

[nadinbrzezinski]

I have spent some time looking at damage pictures.

Several things stand out.

1.- If you believe in a deity, thank such a deity that nobody got hurt or killed. Wall collapses were a plenty... that is what usually hurts people. If you don't like me, still be thankful.

2.- For those of you in the quake zone, if you are near any damaged structure, even if it looks minor, stay away until it is cleared by engineers. If there is damage an achoo (aka an aftershock) can finish the job.

These are some of them









Mostly TAKE CARE... some of us get it.

[Blue-Jay]

1. It's gonna take some time to fix those ceiling tiles.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. It is going to take a structural check to make sure

it is just the tiles.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. By the way you might want to pay more attention to that photo

there is a crack in the masonry.

YUP structural check should be done... and that ain't cheap to do well.

[tavalon]

24. Yeah

It's funny, in the rush to mockage, that ver important piece of info was missed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Well people are mocking their fellow human beings

that is the part I don't get.

[tavalon]

29. People, on this board especially know that Washington isn't listening to them,

and that the voting machines are likely taking away the only option they ever had to get their anger heard. Unfortunately, we aren't to the part where we coalesce and become a thing for Washington and Wall Street to fear. For now were just a bunch of squabbling serfs who are, as slave groups often do, squabbling with each other. Other wise known as the circular firing squad. When we quit that and who knows how long that will be, the writing will be on the wall for a lot of Oligarchs. This seems to having nothing to do with this topic and yet, it really, really does.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Well there is this little global revolution

that will reach this country, and disasters like this, as "minor" as this was, help people to realize that.

The 1985 quake in Mexico City was one of the tipping points, Thankfully it was not to that point, but katrina was.

[Tx4obama]

2. Here's a link to photos showing what the earthquake did to the National Cathedral in DC

NINE photos: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/08/what-really-happened-national-cathedral-quake/41644/

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. I've posted those too

that will take a major engineering check... it is the damage that can't be seen

[Firebrand Gary]

3. East coasters, glad ya'll are ok.

California here, if your are not used to that type of activity it can be pretty scary. Don't take it to hard that my fellow Californian's gave you such a hard time today. They are lashing out as every time we have an earth quake, flood or fire the media drops us like a potato.

For years we have felt left out, don't take it personally.

[Keefer]

6. Thank you nadinbrzezinski...

Some of us have never experienced anything like this. (Me for one.) I live near Pittsburgh, and we felt it here. It didn't scare me, it was just a very unusual feeling. It lasted about 10 or 15 seconds here.

I have always heard pets act up before an earthquake. I have 5 cats. Not ONE of them exhibited any unusual behavior. Maybe that is because this is the first earthquake THEY experienced too!(?)

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. with the conures it is hit or miss

they have been overtly agressive recently though... so I have been thinking perhaps...

My cockatiel was an earthquake predictor. The old guy used to get REALLY CLINGY before one for up to a couple of days.

[villager]

7. The fact that someone goes out of their way to unrec this is just weird, and mean

It's a post telling people to take care in the aftermath of an earthquake, fa Crissakes!

I really don't get DU, sometimes...

[nadinbrzezinski]

I got fans and I care little for their antics any longer

in fact UNREC AWAY TROLLS.

:-)

[Tx4obama]

9. Yeah, I rec'd it too and it's still showing zero ;( n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. Same here...quite odd

[SwampG8r]

18. it could be an accidental unrecc

i have made them myself just not this time

[lapfog_1]

10. Part of the problem

is that most of us who live in quake country (I was in the Bay Area for Loma Prieta), 5.9 or 5.8 just doesn't sound that bad. The thing that we forget is that our infrastructure, since 1906, has taken earthquakes into account so a 5.9 just doesn't do that much (things are shaken off the shelves at the local grocery, a few things bounce around, water sloshes out of the swimming pools, etc). The east coast (much of which is more than 100 years old) doesn't have the same earthquake awareness that the west coast has... but we here shouldn't minimize what the DC area is going through... I remember moving to CA in 1988 and going through a couple of "small ones" (5.6, 5.8) and thinking "wow, that was scary and weird"... now, after 20 years and a 7.1, I don't even think about a 5.8 unless it's right under my feet (within 15 miles).

Everything is a matter of perspective.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Absolutely, and this was the first quake of this intensity

in over 100 years in that area of the country. If anything it should... it won't... lead to buttressing et al for the predicted New Madrid quake.

As is the geology is also very different and this was a very shallow quake, don't help.

[elleng]

17. Due to geologic attributes, affected zone MUCH BROADER than West Coast.

'Only 5.9' felt between Atlanta > CapeCod > Toronto, > Milwaukee. Not huge damage, but huge area.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. I am still amazed at the lack of basic seismic updates to the building codes

Was back in MD recently visiting friends and to give a guest lecture. Nearly new house and many things that have been code for years in the west are still not requirements such as strapping a gas water heater to the structure. I remain amazed.

These are government issues, not the fault of residents.

[demosincebirth]

14. Also, bolting the house to the mud-sill

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Yep. and every time they start talking

they don't.

It is also a cost benefit analysis. Yes we wil have a new madrid quake... we've had it in 1812... we might be overdue.

But to get city managers and code inspectors to put this in place, good luck... in Cali it adds about 20K to the cost of the structure, but we get reminders of why we do it every so often....

Not holding my breath but perhaps after this REMINDER at least mission critical structures, (a nuke plant or two) will be retrofitted. Of course that should include hospitals and fire stations too.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. I recently visited a site where a new garage is was being built

The stuff required by the door was impressive and not cheap. I had not realized that it was a weak spot for earthquakes.

Last time we lived on the east coast we had a gas fired water heater in the basement I strapped it to the studs. Inspector wanted me to take it off since it was not required and was not "code". Ahhh, so much for the backwoods of southern MD.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Yes, doors are a weak spot

door frames are good, but sturdy tables are better for that reason.

And inspectors are indeed married to the book, and if you do not have a quake too often THAT code from the land of fruits and nuts makes NO sense.

[alfredo]

16. A cat 3 hurricane will pick up any debris left out. Weakened structures may give.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. A cat three will make a mess of already compromised structures

that would have survived just dandy without this.

:hug:

[alfredo]

30. The Washington Monument has a crack from the quake.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Spekaing of compromised structures

and while it is a nice symbol I am far more worried about the Cathedral, or a few places south of there in Mineral, for example.

[alfredo]

38. The Washington monument and the Cathedral are important

symbols to Americans. I'd hate to see them further damaged. But Mineral and nearby towns are homes to real live people. They are more important in reality.

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. I know but as a former rescue worker

I get really flippant when it comes to national symbols when compared to where people live.

Now they should cordon them off though and realize that if the worst happens... due to winds, how far debris goes is not really that predictable.

[alfredo]

43. Even a small stick at 100mph can cause harm. I just brought up

the monument because it hadn't been covered yet, not because of a lack of concern for the people and structures in Va.

[lonestarnot]

20. Fucking A.

Cats.! Fucking cats..

[alfredo]

31. That cute furball has sharp claws and teeth.

[diane in sf]

26. Tons of hazardous unreinforced masonry buildings everywhere east of California

[Karenina]

28. Every Friday I took the kids to a video store on Wilshire Blvd.

The was a plaque next to the door which said "This building is constructed of unreinforced masonry which may be unsafe in an earthquake." We passed by it after Northridge to find it PANCAKED. Had the event occurred during business hours there would have been many lives lost.

I'm so disheartened by the meanness displayed on this topic. It's NOT a tiny thing if one is not accustomed to it. After some years in L.A. I could sleep though a 5.5 (It's a truck... it's a truck... no it's an earthquake... whatever...
ZZZZ) KNOWING my shoes were next to the bed, the cabinet doors all had latches on them, the flat was arranged so there were no heavy things in high places, in short we were as prepared as possible.

[Waiting For Everyman]

27. Nadin, you're one who can appreciate this - Sylmar was a 6.0.

(L.A., 1971) That one was no joke. It doesn't take a high number to be bad, it just takes certain circumstances in a certain place and time. It all just depends. We were lucky today.

If the same quake had been centered between D.C. and Baltimore for instance, it might not have been so amusing to so many. Anyway, thanks for your threads.

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. Yep textbook example of how the number is NOT

everything.

[marions ghost]

35. thanks

I'm in north central VA right now and am feeling the same way--ie. if this had been a 6.1 or 6.2 we could have seen something like the disaster in Christchurch NZ. In other words, multiple deaths and injuries. Apparently there were heart attacks but no reports of major injuries. And the North Anna nukes are only rated to withstand a 6.1 quake. If it had been say, a 6.5 we could be looking at something really huge, nuclear -wise, not to mention that also there are nukes in the DC to NYC area.

Unbelievable this did not cause more damage. I hope it sends a warning to everyone on the East Coast. We must have more attention to the possibility of East Coast earthquakes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. We are not fully in the clear from North Anna

they are still on auxiliary power...

And then there is this thing Irene moving up north this weekend. Weakened structures that otherwise would sneeze at Irene might not.

Nature is giving the East Coast a one two punch. As to earthquake preparedness, I have no idea if this will finally do it. In Cali it adds about 20K to any structure. And due to things like North ridge I have my doubts that our standards are where they should be... a seven pointer should not do that much, unless it is really shallow and right under your feet.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

37. My aunt who lives in Southern Maryland described the shaking as very intense.

When you've got no prior frame of reference, it can be a very scary thing. We didn't feel it here in Florida, but if we did, I know I would have been freaked out about it. Unlike Hurricanes, Earthquakes are disasters which are simply random and unpredictable.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. Also it was a surface quake

which makes it almost a shaker, instead of a roller. Shakers are more damaging, rule of thumb, as well

Yes, if this was a deep quake, at 5.8 it would have felt less intense.... of course as you point out, correctly, no frame of reference it would still feel intense.

:hi:

I get it why people got really scared.

[stuntcat]

41. I'm with your aunt on this

It was quite violent in my neighborhood in Northern VA

Things fell on the floor in every room. We had 3 breaks- a ceramic plate, a toy statue, and a pumice stone fell in the bathtub and broke.. and yeah that one was no big loss but on top of the roar and the house shaking, the stuff breaking just made it scarier. I had to hold onto the kitchen counters. All I could do was cry afterward, I'd been so scared and I was so glad it ended.
I wanna slap the smirk off anyone picking on us for being so alarmed.. ANYONE who was in my house yesterday would have been just as scared as I was.

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. And that includes many in the west coast

making fun right now.

:-)

People get scared... every dang time, with good reason.