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Yes, Virginia, That Was Another Earthquake

On May 21 of 2014, a weak earthquake felt at night in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Louisa, and elsewhere mostly just rattled nerves as the historic 2011 Virginia Earthquake leapt to mind. The widely-felt 2011 quake was the butt of jokes at first --until reports emerged about damage to the Washington Monument, the National Cathedral, and also to structures in Virginia's Louisa County. The 2011 damage to Louisa County High School left the school condemned with students in 2014 still operating out of "Modular Mountain" (temporary trailers set up in the LCHS parking lot).

The May 2014 shake measured just 3.2 on the official scale and is not known to have disrupted construction at the replacement Louisa County High School, which is scheduled to open in the 2015-16 school year.

The US Geological Survey's "Did You Feel It?" webpage (which became popular after the 2011 quake) remains in use today, and actively seeks reports from those who feel ground-movement. In fact, if you felt the May 22, 2014 shake, the USGS wants to know.

 

 

Terry Ward was a WMRA producer and announcer from 1997 to 2016.
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