Rare Earthquake Hits Virginia, Rattles U.S. East Coast

The magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck Virginia today was a rare but significant event for the region, according to one quake expert.

The Virginia earthquake struck at about 1:51 p.m ET near Mineral, Virgina, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Richmond (map).

(Related: "Japan Earthquake Vibrations Nearly Reached Space.")

Earthquakes rarely strike the U.S. East Coast and are generally less severe when they do.

Before this latest quake, for example, the largest earthquake on record in central Virginia was a magnitude 4.8 temblor that occurred in 1875, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Eastern Earthquakes Smaller But Farther Reaching

Earthquakes are rare in the eastern U.S. because the region is farther from a plate boundary—a region where tectonic plates meet and grind together. By contrast, California has a major fault line, the San Andreas fault, running vertically through most of the state, Zhou explained.

(See "Mexico Earthquake Zone Linked to California Faults.")

Plate boundaries are especially prone to earthquakes because the motion of tectonic plates creates tension that can cause significant shaking when the stress gets released.

Earthquake's Emotional Aftershocks

When an event like today's earthquake on the East Coast happens, there's not just a ripple effect on the earth, there's a ripple effect on people. Office workers gather on the sidewalk in downtown Washington moments after an earthquake shook the nation's capitol, Aug. 23, 2011.

CAPTION

Earthquakes don't often hit the east coast; residents are in shock that it even happened. Lucky are the people who have that natural crisis skill set. Most people think of grief in terms of losing a loved one. But a natural disaster can cause grief as well. People who are grieving go through several stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. If only I had done this. New Jersey Earthquake - Are you kidding me?

New Jersey just encountered a force that we were not prepared for and no, we are not talking about the cast of Jersey Shore. Just before 2pm on August 23rd, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck in Virginia, causing tremors that spread as far north as Connecticut. Throughout New Jersey strong tremors took citizens by complete surprise with around 40 seconds of shaking due to seismic waves. According to studies done by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, many injuries during earthquakes occur when victims are struck by falling items while trying to escape their homes. If you are outdoors, stay in open spaces away from buildings and electrical wires. Stay conscious of the possibility of aftershocks, which are normally weaker in strength than the earthquake itself.

Earthquakes on the east coast are rare, but they are not unheard of; there have been around 20 reported cases of significant quakes in the Eastern United States since the 1700’s. D’Arcy Johnson Day is a premier New Jersey litigation law firm, specializing in all areas of injury-based claims.