[Infowarrior] - DC rattled by area's largest recorded earthquake

[Richard Forno]

Don't ask me, I slept through it.   -rick


D.C. rattled by area's largest recorded earthquake

'It started as a low audible rumble that built to a crescendo'

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38274327/ns/us_news-life/

WASHINGTON — The largest earthquake ever recorded within 30 miles of Washington, D.C., rattled the capital early Friday, waking many residents but causing no reported damage.

The quake hit at 5:04 a.m. ET with a magnitude of 3.6, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

It was centered near Rockville, Md., the USGS National Earthquake Information Center said.

NBC News reported that the quake was felt in the D.C.-area, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Amy Vaughn, a spokesperson for USGS, told WRC-TV that the quake was the largest recorded within 50 kilometers (31 miles) of Washington since a database was created in 1974.

The previous record within that time period was a 2.6 magnitude temblor in 1990.

"So this is pretty significant for your area," Vaughn told WRC-TV.

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Gloria Jackson, a police communications supervisor for the Montgomery County Police Department, said the department has received numerous calls about the earthquake, but that no injuries or significant property damage had been reported as of 5:35 a.m. ET.

NBC News correspondent Jim Miklaszewski said he felt the quake for about 10 seconds at his Maryland home, which is located about 25 miles north of the capital.

"It started as a low audible rumble that built to a crescendo and shook the house and rattled the windows," he added.

NBC News colleague Tom Costello told TODAY that the quake reminded him of a "massive freight train" passing by.