This is a good question, particularly for folks new to experiencing an earthquake. We expect most California citizens to be educated in this area. However, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook the northeastern U.S. on August 23, leaving shockwaves (no pun intended) behind. To learn more about the northeastern earthquake, plus what to do after an earthquake, visit the FAQ section at USA.gov.
The earthquake that hit Virginia at 1:51 p.m. ET on August 23, had a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 . According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake was shallow (just 3.7 miles deep) and was located 88 miles southwest of the District of Columbia and 58 miles northwest of Richmond, Virginia.
You may wish to report shaking at your location to the USGS.
For 24-hour-a-day earthquake information, please contact the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) at 1.303.273.8500.
Additional Resources:
- What to Do after an Earthquake
- Frequently Asked Earthquake Questions
- Richter Scale – a magnitude scale developed to compare the size of earthquakes.
- General Information on Emergencies and Preparedness
The short link for this FAQ is
