Community Corner

Buildings Evacuated, Nerves Frayed Following Tuesday Quake

Officials survey damage.

Across metropolitan Washington, buildings were evacuated and nerves were frayed in the aftermath of a magnitude 5.9 earthquake Tuesday.

"It shook a few people up," said Cary Dimmick, assistant principal at Watkins Mill High School in Montgomery Village, Md. "We had a few teachers say it was interesting looking out the back window of the school and seeing everything shake outside—the trees moving, everything like that."

"I felt the floor shaking, then I heard a crack and I thought the ceiling was going to come down," said Erin Gilbert, a teacher eating in the Panera in West Springfield.

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The quake registered at 1:51 p.m. by the U.S. Geological Survey with an epicenter in Mineral, Va., a hamlet with a population of 424 about 85 miles southwest of Washington. A 2.8 magnitude aftershock was reported just before 3 p.m., USGS reports.

At , crowds milled about the football field, but freshman Anna Windsor said it wasn't clear whether students should evacuate buildings. Traffic was jammed exiting the campus and throughout the neighborhood for several hours.

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In Mount Vernon, Va., Progreso Hispano director Cristina Schoendorf initially thought the roof was caving in at the organization's headquarters off of Route 1. 

"Here on Route One our building started shaking and it may have not been a big deal, but for me, who has never experienced a quake, it was scary," she said.

Others took the shaking in stride: "Like a giant Off-Centered Laundry Load! Awesome!" Bill Murray of Vienna posted on Facebook.

No injuries were reported.

In Manassas Park, Va., a ceiling tile fell at Cougar Elementary School. But in other areas, the damage was more serious. A YouTube video showed concrete bricks had fallen onto cars in a parking lot. Pieces of the spires of the Washington Cathedral broke off. 

Fairfax County Public School officials report that some schools experienced damage after the quake. Those schools will be inspected today, spokeswoman Mary Shaw said. Schools with any extensive damage will be closed until the damage is repaired.

Metro, MARC and VRE continued operation, though trains operated at reduced speeds. Metro officials are conducting track inspections. No injuries were reported.

The quake came as Virginia held its primary election. Roughly a dozen voters were evacuated from Colin Powell Elementary School in Centreville, Va. The temblor shook at TV on the wall.

The Oswald Durant Center in Old Town Alexandria suspended voting as poll workers and two voters evacuated the building. Shortly thereafter, the center was back in action. 

About 40 employees at Transportation Federal Credit Union across from the Durant Center also evacuated on to Cameron Street after they felt the quake, said Kathy Dalfrey, executive vice president.

"The building just started shaking, and at first we thought there was somebody on the roof," Dalfrey said. "It just got stronger and stronger, and I think everybody just kind of realized it at the same time that it was an earthquake."


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