Earthquakes in Colorado and East Coast Startle Unsuspecting Residents

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck 180 miles from Denver, Colorado, with tremors felt in the neighboring states of Kansas and New Mexico, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It did not caused any major impacts save for some minor structural damage at homes near the epicenter and minor damages to highways nearby.

The quake is the largest since a 5.7 magnitude (man-made) earthquake in 1973.  The biggest earthquake to strike the region on record was a 6.6 magnitude quake that struck in 1882.

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck 38 miles outside of Richmond, Virginia, according to the USGS.  The quake rippled all the way from Georgia to New York.

No major damage, injuries, or fatalities were reported.  Perhaps the most notable physical damage is a crack in the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.  The quake did, however, cause traffic delays and massive (but short) evacuation from buildings all over the East Coast.

The biggest previous earthquake in Virginia is was a 4.8 magnitude quake in 1875.

Due to the non-serious and non-fatal impact of the earthquakes, startled and unsuspecting residents mostly reacted with disbelief and humor.

One of the most common jokes is pictures of the earthquake's devastation showing benign damages like fallen lawn chairs.

Below are some of the tweets from Colorado and East Coast earthquake victims.

-The worst damage from the #earthquake, thus far, came from seeing much too much Wolf Blitzer on my television set

-I know others have said this, but I think the reason so many freaked was that earthquake was not our first thought.

-Just found more #earthquake damage, fruit is no longer on the bottom of my yogurt

-Colorado. CMon Son. Just cause 63 people who are slightly overweight and fall off the couch doesn't make it an earthquake.