[10][11], Press reports show that the earthquake could be felt a long distance away from its center. Rocks in this terrane formed as volcanic and plutonic rocks in a continental arc during the Ordovician Period (~470 to 450 million years ago). Virginia Earthquake 2011: Damage Less than $100 Million. The 2011 Virginia earthquake was a magnitude 5.8 (Mw) earthquake in the U.S. state of Virginia on August 23, 2011, at 1:51 PM EDT (17:51 UTC). It caused extensive damage in central Virginia and was likely felt by more people than any other earthquake in U.S. history. Shaking intensity variation can be due to propagation path effects, source directivity, and/or site... Nearly 1 year ago, on 23 August, tens of millions of people in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada were startled in the middle of their workday (1:51 P.M. local time) by the sudden onset of moderate to strong ground shaking from a rare magnitude (M) 5.8 earthquake in central Virginia. The other was the 1944 quake on the New York-Ontario border. Buildings such a the Temple B'nai Israel in Burlington and a home in Camden were damaged. Intraplate earthquakes tend to be much less frequent and … The earthquake occurred in what scientists refer to as the “Central Virginia Seismic Zone”, a region characterized by low-level seismicity since at least 1774. [8] As of August 30, there have been 19 aftershocks, most of them minor. The focus of the earthquake was 6km or 3.7miles below the surface. PHOTO GALLERY. Four aftershocks happened within twelve hours of … http://miahz.com/2011/08/earthquake/*This is the only live video shot during the earthquake that i've seen so far. [3] Four aftershocks happened within twelve hours of the main earthquake. Much of the structural damage was confined to brick buildings and unreinforced masonry structures. A joint NPAD-NCRC team interviewed 10 senior staff from the FEMA NCR Watch Desk, the FEMA National Continuity Program (NCP) … The 23 August 2011 Mineral, Virginia, earthquake (Mw 5.8) was the largest to strike the eastern U.S. since 1897 and was felt over an extraordinarily large area. The 2011 Virginia earthquake occurred in the Chopawamsic terrane. In Arlington County, Virginia, a pipe in the Pentagon broke. In New York state, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the State Office of Emergency Management had no reports of damage to buildings or infrastructure. In a previous post I focused on the context of the M5.8 Virginia earthquake of 23 August, and took special care to explain why the earthquake was felt over such great distances. This rate of messages was faster than during the death of Osama bin Laden. Nearly a third of the U.S. population reported feeling the earthquake that struck Virginia last year, probably more than any other earthquake in U.S. history, researchers say. (Public domain.). Similar to the DYFI felt reports, recordings from the 2011 central Virginia earthquake at USGS (and its partner’s) seismograph stations in the eastern U.S., showed that the crustal rocks are especially efficient at transmitting seismic waves. Horton, J.W., Jr., Chapman, M.C., and Green, R.A., 2015, The 2011 Mineral, Virginia, earthquake, and its signifi cance for seismic hazards in eastern North America—Overview and synthesis, in Horton, J.W., Jr., Chapman, M.C., and Green, R.A., eds., The 2011 Mineral, Virginia, Earthquake, and Its Signifi cance for Seismic Hazards in Eastern North America: Geological Society of America Special Paper 509, p. 1–25, doi:10.1130/2015.2509(01). This was an intraplate earthquake – most earthquakes are interplate, meaning that they occur on fault lines that bound tectonic plates. 2011 Virginia Earthquake Felt by Third of US. Indeed, this earthquake reminded us that damaging earthquakes, though infrequent, are a part of living in the eastern United States. The 2011 Virginia earthquake was a magnitude 5.8 (M w) earthquake in the U.S. state of Virginia on August 23, 2011, at 1:51 PM EDT (17:51 UTC). The rupture began near the SW end of the fault plane and progressed from SW to NE along trend and up the fault plane towards the surface. [15] Damage was reported as far away as Burlington, New Jersey. The earthquake had a 3-part rupture: 1) first, a small initial rupture at about 8km depth, 2) then, 0.75 seconds later a larger subsequent rupture, which accounted for about 60% of total energy release, 3) and finally, a smaller rupture 1.75 seconds after the onset of the earthquake. Here’s what happens when an earthquake hits an unsuspecting region. Read full article. As a result, it gives us an exciting opportunity to learn more about what’s going on. Aftershocks. The focus was 60 kilometres (37 mi) northwest of Richmond and 8 kilometres (5 mi) from the town of Mineral, Virginia. Reported experiences for this earthquake provided data that can be used to more accurately estimate the shaking distribution from moderate-to-large future earthquakes in this area, as well as help us better estimate the magnitudes of older historical events with fewer historical accounts. This well-observed characteristic of eastern U.S. earthquakes permits them to cause felt shaking and damage over a broader area. (Public domain.). Amtrak trains arriving and departing from Penn Station were also delayed. The 2011 Virginia earthquake: what are scientists learning? This article has been mentioned by a media organization : David Montgomery (2011-08-24). [38] People were also told to get out of the Bucks County Courthouse in Doylestown. Groundwater level changes (most <15 cm) were recorded at 48 wells as far as 550km from the epicenter, and the 40 3-component seismometers and 200 1-component seismometers, which were all deployed within about one week after the mainshock, provided the best-recorded aftershock sequence ever in the eastern U.S. No evidence of surface rupture has been found, but there were small sand boils identified near the epicenter caused by strong shaking as well as rock falls up to 245 km away. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of the quake was located near Cuckoo, in Louisa County. The August 23, 2011 earthquake marked the first time scientists were able to associate seismic activity in the area with a particular fault since it was large enough to produce enough aftershocks to delineate the causative fault. I know, earthquakes happen all of the time. [16], Many buildings in the eastern United States are not built strongly enough that earthquakes cannot damage them. The pieces fell to the ground along with several pieces of marble from the temple's outside wall. The quake caused serious damage to 120 buildings. If you haven’t heard, or forgotten recently, there was an earthquake last week. EventpageTectonic summary, maps and data. [28], Buildings in the Washington, D.C. area were damaged, but not severely. … [37], In Pennsylvania, people were told to get out of office buildings in Philadelphia. Destroyed up to 7 houses. [18] Other buildings were evacuated in Philadelphia, Boston and New York City. The Virginia 2011 earthquake occurred at 1:51 pm on August 23, 2011. Extraordinary distance limits of landslides triggered by the 2011 Mineral, Virginia, earthquake; 2012; Article; Journal; Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America; Jibson, Randall W.; Harp, Edwin L. Initial assessment of the intensity distribution of the 2011 Mw5.8 Mineral, Virginia, earthquake; 2012; Article; Journal; Seismological Research Letters; Hough, Susan E. Earthquakes in Virginia and vicinity 1774 - 2004; 2006; OFR; 2006-1017; Tarr, Arthur C.; Wheeler, Russell L. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Mapping, Remote Sensing, and Geospatial Data, felt by approximately one-third of the U.S. population, The 2011 Mineral, Virginia, Earthquake, and Its Significance for Seismic Hazards in Eastern North America. Most common … Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/30/2018 - 14:12. [35][36], In Delaware, the New Castle County Courthouse in Wilmington and Family Court in Georgetown were evacuated. central Virginia epicenter, suffered damage. The plate includes both continental crust and heavier (iron- and magnesium-rich) oceanic crust. This reveals the extraordinary distances that damaging ground shaking can extend in eastern North America – about 10 times further than damaging or felt shaking extends in western North America. The U.S. District Court in South Boston was evacuated and the University of Massachusetts Boston cut summer classes short and sent all workers home early. We’ll begin with what I think is the most fascinating video from this earthquake. In Washington, D.C., the White House,[17] the Capitol building and other buildings were evacuated. Shown are the main shock (star) and aftershocks (red circles) greater than about magnitude 1.0 recorded through May 2, 2012. The Virginia earthquake of 2011 August 23 occurred as reverse faulting on a north or northeast-striking plane within a previously recognized seismic zone, the "Central Virginia Seismic Zone." Last year, the surprise 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck central Virginia was actually worse than previously thought. The magnitude 5.8 quake that struck near Mineral, Va., nearly a year ago on Aug. 23, 2011, was felt from Maine to Florida, from Cape Cod to Chicago, and … Its moment tensor solu-tion (Figure 1a) indicates a N28°E-striking nodal plane that … This arc was likely outboard of ancient North America and was later accreted to … (Public domain.). August 23, 2011, Mineral Virginia Earthquake & Aftershocks The Mineral earthquake had a very prolific aftershock sequence, which is still being studied. [28], From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, "Earthquake strikes US east coast, felt all the way down in Orlando, FL reported by KCNSEN", "5.9 earthquake in central Virginia felt across East Coast", "Earthquake, aftershocks rattle Northern Virginia", "Largest Earthquakes by State, List of Earthquakes", "Historic United States Earthquakes Sorted by State & Date", "Mag 5.8 earthquake felt in Metro Atlanta", "Illinois residents may have felt Virginia quake", "Earthquake rattles parts of U.S. East Coast and Canada; no serious injuries", "US earthquake leads to evacuation of White House", "D.C. monuments 'stable' after 5.9 magnitude quake, official says", "5.8 earthquake hits Virginia, rattles NYC, east coast", "5.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes East Coast", "Boston-Area Buildings Evacuated After Earthquake", "Earthquake reported along the East Coast", "Quake rocks Washington area, felt on East Coast", "Facebook, Twitter report record earthquake messages", "D.C. National Cathedral Damaged, official says", "Park service: Earthquake cracks Washington Monument near its top, closed indefinitely", "East Coast quake damages people's nerves and temple spires", "5.9 earthquake rocks Virginia, other parts of East Coast", NY gets tremors but no damage from quake in Va. damage. Collapsed walls after 2011 Virginia Earthquake. WASHINGTON -- Since its founding more than 200 years ago, the nation's capital had never experienced an earthquake as intense as last year's 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered roughly 85 miles away in Virginia's Louisa County. Central Virginia Earthquake: Source . To the south, the earthquake reached Atlanta, Georgia;[12] and to the north, the earthquake reached Quebec City, Quebec. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation checked bridges for damage. The 23 August 2011 earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth of . [2] The earthquake was along the Spotsylvania Fault, an ancient fault line that now sits in the middle of the North American plate. Charles Q. Click on a pin on the map to see more information. earthquake: Location: Virginia: Point in time: 23 August 2011: 37° 56′ 24″ N, 77° 55′ 48″ W No data point selected. The M = 5.8 earthquake in the Central Virginia seismic zone has a fault plane solution indicating reverse motion on an ESE-dipping plane consistent with aftershocks. There was no damage to the bridges over the Delaware River owned by the Delaware River Port Authority. Virginia 2011 Earthquake: D.C. Damage, Recovery Following 5.8 Magnitude Temblor (PHOTOS) By Michael Grass. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred in Virginia on August 23, 2011. However, even though several small earthquakes are recorded each month in the Eastern U.S., there are usually not enough events to map out and associate them with a specific fault, so the hypothesis had not been well tested. [24][25][26] Washington Metro trains were delayed and run at reduced speeds of 15 miles per hour. However, buttresses that support the central tower, a prominent part of the city skyline, look normal. Numerous aftershocks occurred after the main tremor. Dr. Blanpied discusses how scientists are using the August 23 earthquake to inform estimates of the region's seismic hazard. Earthquakes similar to or like 2011 Virginia earthquake 2011 Oklahoma earthquake 5.7 magnitude intraplate earthquake which occurred near Prague, Oklahoma on November 5 at 10:53... 2011 Kütahya earthquake The 2011 Kütahya earthquake struck near a populous region … The magnitude 5.8 quake that struck near Mineral, Va., nearly a year ago on Aug. 23, 2011, was felt from Maine to Florida, from Cape Cod to Chicago, and … The Central Virginia Seismic Zone. In Boston, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reported no injuries or damage. The earthquake … Raw DYFI data suggest some general patterns, including significant apparent amplification of seismic waves along Chesapeake Bay, in parts of the District of Columbia (D.C.) and elsewhere, as well as a southwest-northeast directionality to the earthquake rupture and more efficient seismic wave propagation along the predominantly SW-NE-trending geologic structure. FEMA’s National Preparedness Assessment Division (NPAD) and Office of National Capital Region Coordination (NCRC) collaborated with OPM to develop an analysis of the Virginia earthquake response. All of the pre-instrumental (historical) earthquakes were large enough to... Below are videos and podcasts associated with this project. This discrepancy is due to the older and denser rocks of the earth's crust on the East Coast that seismic waves can travel through more efficiently without losing energy. It was widely felt--from Maine to Georgia, west to Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Chicago, and southeastern Canada--over a broad area inhabited by one-third of the U.S. population. Cross-sectional illustration of normal and reverse dip-slip faults. The Air Traffic Control tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport was evacuated. Ground shaking due to earthquakes in the eastern United States (EUS) is felt at significantly greater distances than in the western United States (WUS) and for some earthquakes it has been shown to display a strong preferential direction. A map shows the wide reach of the 2011 Virginia earthquake. This allowed engineers to see if the rails were damaged. Join us as we talk to David Russ, who is the USGS Regional Executive for the Northeast Area, about that event as well as earthquake risk, history and geology along the East coast. Government buildings were evacuated, and city workers could go home.[16]. It was almost the same rate as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. ShakeMapShaking recorded on seismic instruments. The M5.8 earthquake initiated near the town of Mineral, Virginia, about 65 km northwest of Richmond, Virginia at a depth of about 6-8 km. This map summarizes two and a third centuries of earthquake activity. Tens of millions of people felt the M5.8 earthquake that occurred in Louisa County, VA on August 23, 2011. Kanawha County dispatchers received more than 350 calls in 45 minutes but there were no reports of damage to buildings and infrastructure other than minor plaster cracking in the old courthouse. The event triggered landslides over a wider area than … This was an intraplate earthquake – most earthquakes are interplate, meaning that they occur on fault lines that bound tectonic plates. This was a result from a magnitude 5.8 earthquake in Virginia on August 23, 2011. Public domain. [34], In New Jersey, the state Emergency Management office reported two gas leaks in Gloucester County, with no reports of injuries from either leak. The epicenter was found in Louisa County, VA in the Piedmont region (61 miles from Richmond). This new fault zone has been named the Quail fault zone. The North American Plate is one of the 15 or so major "chunks" of crust that float on top of the hot mantle. A live, online chat about East Coast earthquakes and the Virginia 5.8M earthquake that occurred on August 23, 2011, with Dr. Michael Blanpied, Associate Coordinator for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. The monument is closed indefinitely. In the days following the earthquake seismologists from VTSO, University of the Memphis, Columbia University, Lehigh University, IRIS and the U.S. Geological Survey installed many seismograph stations in the epicentral area. 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