It sounded like someone was stomping around in my attic, around 1:50 p.m. and then I felt shaking throughout the house as chandeliers and painting shook… Working from home on my computer, it suddenly dawned on me..an earthquake? My daughter just had her wisdom teeth pulled and she was resting upstairs in her bedroom. SHe ran downstairs. “Mom an earthquake. We need to get outside!” I opened the door and heard the neighbors across the street yelling out to one another, “Earthquake.”
So do you stand in a doorway inside the building or go outside? Luckily the shaking stopped but I will check on the proper protocol for next time!
Just learned that the earthquake emanated from Southwest, Virginia 5.9 on the Richter scale, but on the East Coast when earthquakes happen, they radiate further. Pretty amazing stuff.
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Nadja Maril, Writer & Author 
Nadja,
Having grown up in California we learned early not to run outside but to stand in a solid doorway, unless the whole house starts coming down on top of you, which is highly unlikely unless the earthquake gets up in the 8.0 range. That probably wouldn’t happen in Maryland. The reason is the building facades are much more likely to fall on you and injure you than anything inside the house. There are lots of brick facades in Annapolis that could cause some serious injuries if people are outside.
Once the earthquake is over however you should go outside and check for gas leaks and shut off those valves if you smell or hear any gas leaking. Most Californians keep a gas pipe wrench handy for earthquakes. There is a higher risk of fire damage after an earthquake due to these leaks. Also water damage from water pipe leaks.
Hope that helps!
Wendy
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