Earthquake’s aftershock, damages still to come

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the East Coast on Tuesday may cause lasting shaking and millions of dollars in damages, according to scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake occurred in an area that is seismically active, making it difficult to determine whether Tuesday's shaking was just the tip of the iceberg, USGS experts said. Information available indicates that another large quake is unlikely to occur, but aftershocks and quakes one or two magnitudes smaller may be expected in the coming days and weeks, they said.

According to USGS, shaking is felt in wider areas on the East Coast because the earth's crust is more rigid and doesn't absorb energy well. But scientists caution that the impact could have been much greater if Tuesday's quake had struck even a short distance from its epicenter in Mineral, Va.

"In some ways we dodged a bullet," said USGS geophysicist David Wald. "The damaging shaking actually occurred in an area of relatively low population density compared to what it could be. But expect tens of millions worth of damage."

According to Wald, chimneys and structures made of brick and wood likely will see the most extensive damage. Older infrastructure, including roadways, also will be affected. Many buildings on the east coast are poorly built to withstand strong shaking, so even an earthquake of moderate magnitude can cause a lot of hardship, he said.