Search for hidden damage after East Coast quake

Dozens of office buildings, schools and iconic American landmarks were being inspected August 24 for possible structural flaws caused by a rare East Coast earthquake.

August 24, 2011, Associated Press -- (National) Search for hidden damage after East Coast quake. Dozens of office buildings, schools and iconic American landmarks were being inspected August 24 for possible structural flaws caused by a rare East Coast earthquake while those near the epicenter nervously waited out aftershocks.

Public schools and a handful of federal government buildings in the Washington D.C. metro area remained closed for further assessment, and engineers were taking a closer look at cracks in the Washington Monument and broken capstones at the National Cathedral.

Some residents of D.C. suburbs were staying in shelters because of structural concerns at their apartment buildings. Farther south, Tuesday's 5.8-magnitude quake also shattered windows and wrecked buildings near its Mineral, Virginia epicenter.

There were no known deaths or serious injuries. The most powerful earthquake to strike the East Coast in 67 years shook buildings and jarred as many as 12 million people. The U.S. Geological Survey said it was centered 40 miles northwest of Richmond. The U.S. Park Service evacuated and closed all monuments and memorials along the National Mall.

The Pentagon, the White House, the Capitol and federal agencies in and around Washington were evacuated. On August 24, a handful of federal buildings remained closed, including some offices of the Homeland Security, Agriculture and Interior departments Roads out of the city were clogged with commuters headed home.

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/search-hidden-damage-east-coast-quake-131402506.html

Source: DHS Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 25 August 2011