**Ten Years Since the Virginia Earthquake that Shook the East Coast** **August 23, 2021** Ten years ago today, on the afternoon of August 23, 2011, millions of people across the eastern United States felt the ground shaking beneath their feet. The magnitude 5.8 earthquake near Mineral, Virginia, was the largest to hit the region in over 100 years. Seismic instruments recorded the shaking all along the East Coast, from Maine to Florida. The quake was felt as far away as Chicago and Toronto. In New York City, some buildings shook so violently that people were forced to evacuate. However, not everyone in the city felt the earthquake. The shaking was strongest in the northern suburbs of Manhattan and the Bronx. The earthquake caused widespread damage, particularly in Virginia and Maryland. Hundreds of buildings were damaged, including the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral. The quake also caused power outages and water main breaks. In the days and weeks after the earthquake, there were dozens of aftershocks. The largest aftershock, a magnitude 4.2, occurred on August 23, 2011, at 8:04 pm. Ten years later, the Virginia earthquake remains the largest to hit the eastern United States since the 1886 Charleston earthquake. It is a reminder that even in areas that are not typically associated with earthquakes, the potential for a major seismic event is always present.
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