Earthquakes in Virginia? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Earthquakes are rare in the mid-Atlantic region, but Mineral, VA was the epicenter of a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on August 23, 2011. Since then, communities in and around the Commonwealth have experienced more than two dozen aftershocks. Is Your Home Safe? Check your home carefully for damages. Here are some things to look for: Has the building shifted or moved from its foundation? Did the foundation crack or separate? Did any portion of the walls, floors, roof or decking collapse or crack? Is the building noticeably leaning? Are walls leaning or no longer straight up and down? Are doors or windows jammed or hard to open and close? Is your roof leaking? Is water damage on your ceilings? If your home shows structural damage, check with a professional contractor to determine if it is To obtain the name of a licensed contractor or building inspector, contact your insurance or safe. mortgage company. You can check a contractor’s license at . Click on License Lookup. Are Your Utilities Working Properly? Checking utilities is especially important if you live in an older home. Check for leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and gas quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional. Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. Look to see if your electrical meter has shifted out of place. Check outdoors for tilted power poles or sagging power lines. Never step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker. Call an electrician for advice. Check for damaged sewer and water lines. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, don’t use the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged—especially older copper pipes—contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap. Can You Safely Heat Your Home? If you use a furnace, look to see if the furnace has shifted. Be sure to check for damage to ducts or exhaust pipes.
Earthquakes in Virginia? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Earthquakes are rare in the mid-Atlantic region, but Mineral, VA was the epicenter of a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on August 23, 2011. Since then, communities in and around the Commonwealth have experienced more than two dozen aftershocks. Is Your Home Safe? Check your home carefully for damages. Here are some things to look for: Has the building shifted or moved from its foundation? Did the foundation crack or separate? Did any portion of the walls, floors, roof or decking collapse or crack? Is the building noticeably leaning? Are walls leaning or no longer straight up and down? Are doors or windows jammed or hard to open and close? Is your roof leaking? Is water damage on your ceilings? If your home shows structural damage, check with a professional contractor to determine if it is safe. To obtain the name of a licensed contractor or building inspector, contact your insurance or mortgage company. You can check a contractor’s license at . Click on License Lookup. Are Your Utilities Working Properly? Checking utilities is especially important if you live in an older home. Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional. Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. Look to see if your electrical meter has shifted out of place. Check outdoors for tilted power poles or sagging power lines. Never step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker. Call an electrician for advice. Check for damaged sewer and water lines. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, don’t use the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged—especially older copper pipes—contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap. Can You Safely Heat Your Home? If you use a furnace, look to see if the furnace has shifted. Be sure to check for damage to ducts or exhaust pipes.
Earthquake-Fact-Sheet.docx