2011 Virginia Earthquake - Infographic

USGS infographic on the magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck central Virginia August 23, 2011, east coast earthquake hazards and how the USGS is helping inform critical decisions to protect lives and property. 

Full Text Description:

10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE M5.8 EARTHQUAKE IN VIRGINIA
America’s Most Widely Felt Earthquake

M5.8 EARTHQUAKE
Mineral, VA on August 23, 2011

Above: Amplified shaking occurred in Washington, D.C., due to the underlying sediment. The Washington Monument  was one structure damaged and has since  been repaired. Photograph credit: USGS. Right: House damage near the earthquake's epicenter. Photograph credit: USGS.

FELT BY MILLIONS
Red dots show the 149,619 reports to USGS “Did You Feel It?” from Florida to eastern Canada and west to Mississippi River Valley.

$200-$300 MILLION in damages.

~4,000 AFTERSHOCKS recorded and they continue today.

USGS Earthquake Science is Helping Inform Critical Decisions

EMERGENCY MANAGERS

• "Did an earthquake just  occur, where was it centered and how large was it?"
• "What communities and structures are vulnerable?"
• "What size and frequency of aftershocks are expected?"

ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS

• "What buildings are vulnerable and might need renovating?"
• "Are building codes and standards appropriate for a given area?"

BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS

• "What's the earthquake hazard where major infrastructure investments are being considered?"

THE PUBLIC

• "What's the likelihood of  a damaging earthquake where I live and how should I prepare for it?"

POLICY MAKERS

• "What is needed to protect lives and property nationwide?"

The East is Not Immune to Earthquakes

>400 Earthquakes of magnitude 3.5 or greater in eastern North America in the past 50 years.

>800 Earthquakes of magnitude 3.5 or greater near Puerto Rico in the past 50 years.

• M5.3 Au Sable Forks, NY April 20, 2002
• M4.7 Hollis Center, ME October 16, 2012
• M5.8 Mineral, VA August 23, 2011
• M5.1 Sparta, NC August 9, 2020
• M4.1 near Dover, DE November 30, 2017
• M7.0 Charleston, SC August 31, 1886 Puerto Rico
• M5.8 Moca, Puerto Rico May 16, 2010
• M6.4 Maria Antonio, Puerto Rico Janurary 7, 2020

Did an earthquake occur in your area?
Be prepared.
Sign up for USGS earthquake alerts.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/ens

U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey Did an earthquake occur in your area?

Latest earthquake information: earthquake.usgs.gov