Low magnitude earthquake in Maryland shocks nation to its core

A mild earthquake in Maryland that jiggled the nation's capital triggered widespread panic that probably has California residents chuckling. The D.C. earthquake caused no property damage or traffic delays, and the trains ran on time, but thousands of confused people flooded the 911 switchboard after the ground rumbled and buildings vibrated for about 10 seconds. There was no word of fighter jets scrambling or members of the executive branch being hustled to an undisclosed location.

Media feasts on mild earthquake in Maryland
The magnitude of the earthquake in Maryland was considered mild by geologists, but because it affected Washington D.C., the earthquakes effects were magnified a hundredfold by the media. MSNBC reports that the D.C. earthquake hit at 5:04 a.m. ET with a magnitude of 3.6 on the Richter scale, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was centered near Rockville, Md. The USGS said residents reported rumbling in the D.C.-area, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.