5 Years Later, DC Earthquake Still Causing Problems

WASHINGTON, DC — Five years ago today, Aug. 23, the entire D.C. region — and much of the Eastern seaboard — shook as an ultra-rare magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck central Virginia, sending Washington, D.C., workers streaming into the streets, shaking gargoyles off the National Cathedral and putting a huge crack in the top of the Washington Monument. Even today, the two historic structures are suffering from that event.

Ultimately, no one was injured in the earthquake, but it caused significant damage not only to the Washington Monument but also to the National Cathedral, resulting in millions of dollars in repairs and forcing the Washington Monument to be covered with scaffolding for many months. It didn't reopen until just two years ago.

And the impact is still being felt today. While the stone and masonry repairs have been completed, the earthquake caused moisture to seep in through the cracks and may be partially to blame for the recent spate of elevator problems that has forced the monument to shut down several times, said National Park Service spokesperson Mike Litterst.

"We believe that the effects of the earthquake, including moisture seeping in through cracks, may have had a greater impact on the elevator system than originally believed and may be at least partially responsible for the earlier than anticipated replacement of the control system, currently underway," he said. "But we certainly can't say definitively that the earthquake is responsible."

The damage to the cathedral will cost an estimated $34 million to fix, and the cathedral has been trying to raise the money to make the necessary repairs. Unfortunately, it still has $22 million to go, according to a WTOP report.

The earthquake caused finial stones on several pinnacles to break off or twist out of alignment. It also damaged some gargoyles and carvings, and falling rocks punched a hole through the roof. It stuck the cathedral with a huge bill, as there was, not surprisingly, no earthquake insurance for the structure.

The earthquake resulted in the closure of the National Cathedral from Aug. 24 until Nov 7. as $2 million was spent to make sure the structure was stable and to clean up fallen masonry.

Image via Wikimedia