Thank you to all you lovely folks who have texted, emailed and called to inquire if everyone at Silly Hat Central was okay after the earthquake that struck earlier this afternoon. We're all fine.
The epicenter of the 3.7-mile deep (6 km), 5.8 magnitude earthquake was 70 miles away.
My younger sister, a Maryland resident, also felt the earthquake. When I called her cell phone, her exact words were, "I'm fine. My building shook like crap!"
My father was in Indianapolis, IN, driving an 18-wheeler (He's 75. Why is he still working?) and had not yet heard about the earthquake when I called his cell phone at 3:10 PM.
My mother was sitting on her back porch swing and didn't feel the shaking at all. (Not to worry mom, The Sprout and I - somehow - didn't feel it either.)
My husband was in Chicago, IL, on a business trip and I assured him that we are all fine. (We're still fine, honey!)
Here is what wikipedia has to say about seismic activity in my little corner of Tat Land.
A look at the historical data for the eastern US states shows that this is the biggest quake to hit the east coast since 1897 (a 5.9 in VA) and the second biggest of all time (well, since they started recording such things) after a 7.3 that hit South Carolina in 1886.
As of approximately 3:05 PM CNN reports that all National Monuments are "stable but closed" and so far the only reported damage is to part of the central tower of the National Cathedral. (The cathedral is the highest point in Washington, D.C.)
The Wall Street Journal has just posted this disturbing bit of news:
Virginia Nuclear Power Plant Loses Power After Quake
The news services are reporting that the effects of the quake could be felt as far north as Toronto, Canada. Fox, did you feel it?
If you felt the earthquake in your corner of Tat Land, please leave me a comment and tell me what you were doing when the earth started moving.
The epicenter of the 3.7-mile deep (6 km), 5.8 magnitude earthquake was 70 miles away.
My younger sister, a Maryland resident, also felt the earthquake. When I called her cell phone, her exact words were, "I'm fine. My building shook like crap!"
My father was in Indianapolis, IN, driving an 18-wheeler (He's 75. Why is he still working?) and had not yet heard about the earthquake when I called his cell phone at 3:10 PM.
My mother was sitting on her back porch swing and didn't feel the shaking at all. (Not to worry mom, The Sprout and I - somehow - didn't feel it either.)
My husband was in Chicago, IL, on a business trip and I assured him that we are all fine. (We're still fine, honey!)
Here is what wikipedia has to say about seismic activity in my little corner of Tat Land.
The Virginia Seismic Zone is located in the U.S. State of Virginia in the Piedmont province covering approximately 8,000 km2 (~3,000 mi2). Earthquakes in Virginia are irregular and rarely above 4.5 on the Richter magnitude scale.
A look at the historical data for the eastern US states shows that this is the biggest quake to hit the east coast since 1897 (a 5.9 in VA) and the second biggest of all time (well, since they started recording such things) after a 7.3 that hit South Carolina in 1886.
As of approximately 3:05 PM CNN reports that all National Monuments are "stable but closed" and so far the only reported damage is to part of the central tower of the National Cathedral. (The cathedral is the highest point in Washington, D.C.)
The Wall Street Journal has just posted this disturbing bit of news:
Virginia Nuclear Power Plant Loses Power After Quake
The news services are reporting that the effects of the quake could be felt as far north as Toronto, Canada. Fox, did you feel it?
If you felt the earthquake in your corner of Tat Land, please leave me a comment and tell me what you were doing when the earth started moving.
Are You Still Reading?
If so, let me treat you to a small video skit called Tea and Earthquakes.
If so, let me treat you to a small video skit called Tea and Earthquakes.
