Unusual 5.8 earthquake shakes eastern residents, businesses
As businesses and homeowners prepared for a hurricane that many forecasters are projecting will affect the east coast this weekend, a rare earthquake rattled the Atlantic seaboard on Tuesday.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake was centered in Mineral, Virginia, and had a magnitude of 5.9.
Tremors from the earth-shaking event could be felt as far north as Canada and well inland, as many buildings were evacuated.
"We were rocking," said Larry Beach, who works for the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C, in an interview with Reuters. "It was definitely significant."
Along with his office, the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon were also temporarily vacated.
While earthquakes have occurred on the east coast in the past, seismologists say the size of this one was atypical.
This is the largest earthquake by far that I am aware of occurring there in recent history," said Brown University seismologist professor Karen Fisher in an interview with Reuters.
Even though few structures were adversely affected by the quake, East Coast residents should be advised that standard homeowners insurance coverage does not include earthquakes. Policyholders may want to consult with their insurer to see what options are available.
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