A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Virginia and the Washington, D.C., area today, with tremors felt as far as New York and North Carolina, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Several buildings, including the Pentagon, have been evacuated, and air traffic was disrupted at Washington’s Reagan National Airport. Some property damage was reported in Richmond. Cellular phone service was also disrupted in the New York City and D.C. areas.

Organizations in affected regions should be mindful of the possibility of aftershocks. While aftershocks are typically of lower magnitude than the initial event, that is not always the case. Additionally, if structures have been jeopardized from the initial ground motion, these aftershocks could create risks to those structures—even if the aftershock is of a lower magnitude. Adding further complexity is the potential for torrential rain and strong winds from Hurricane Irene, which could exacerbate existing property damage as it approaches the East coast.

Marsh will continue to monitor the situation and advise clients of necessary next steps.  Clients that have questions or concerns should contact their Marsh representative. Marsh's Disaster Recovery Portal also outlines steps property owners should take to ensure the earthquake did not cause damage.