Earthquakes Not Uncommon in DC Region

WASHINGTON - Did you feel it? That is the question many around the D.C. region are asking after a 3.6 magnitude earthquake shot through the area at 5:04 a.m. Friday.

Mike Blanpied, an expert at the U.S. Geological Survey says it is not uncommon for an earthquake to rattle the area and even a bigger earthquake could happen.

“This is an illustration of the fact that we live in an earthquake prone area,” said Blanpied.

Many people were jolted awake by it. They say it lasted about eight seconds and rattled their homes.

"It sounded like a freight train coming through and the house started shaking,” said Leesburg resident Karen Russell.

Her roommate, Hannah McMillan said, "I was in the doorway between the dining room and the kitchen and then felt a tremor. The house started to shake enough that I had to hold on to the door frame."

The epicenter of the quake was in nearby Gaithersburg, Maryland, but it was felt up to a 100 miles away.

"At first I thought it was a plane flying over the house but low, and then I felt the vibrations, so I went back to sleep," said Teresa Clark of Leesburg.

Blanpied says while earthquakes are not rare in these parts, New York, Southern Virginia and the Carolinas are more prone.

“In this area, we're probably not going get the big one around here. We could get some earthquakes big enough to do some damage,” said Blanpied.

No one was reportedly injured and there was minor damage, but people are talking about it. Many weighed in on the "Did you feel it" section of the USGS website and called into FOX 5.

But some people never even felt the earthquake. Some slept through it and only learned of it hours later. Bryan Peters was one such person.

"As far as I'm concerned, nothing happened,” said Peters.

Blanpied says the few earthquakes that have happened in the D.C. region have been in the 2 point magnitude range. They have not been severe enough to cause much damage.

Newer buildings are built to code to withstand earthquakes, but the region has many buildings that are older and vulnerable.

Blanpied says to help stay safe during an earthquake, people should drop to the floor, get underneath a sturdy piece of furniture and hold on. He says that will help stop anything that is falling from hitting them.

For more information about earthquakes, go to earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/