thedailywhat:

Earthquake of the Day: The United States Geological Survey is reporting a shallow earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 has just occurred 15km south of Mineral, VA.

The tremor was felt as far away and New York and Ohio. Government buildings in Washington D.C. are being evacuated as a precaution. There have been no immediate reports of injury or damage.

[usgs.]

UPDATE: USGS upgrades Virginia earthquake magnitude to 5.9 — largest on East Coast since May 5, 1897. Reportedly felt in Toronto. Depth revised to 0.6 miles underground. Still no major damage reported; USGS estimates 70% probability of “less than 1” fatality. Related: Colorado earthquake this morning was strongest in over 40 years.

Woah, this is was so close to Richmond!

So there I was, laying in bed watching Law & Order: SVU (which is still on, btw) and my entire bed starts shaking, my Grandma starts screaming bloody murder, my light that has been broken since Christmas turns on, and my roof starts making sounds. I kid you not but my first thought was OMG OMG IT’S A FUCKING POLTERGEIST! My brain would not compute that this was a earthquake. Because when the fuck does Virginia have earthquakes?