EDITORS:
An earthquake centered in Virginia shook much of the East Coast this afternoon. Here is a list of the AP's plans for this evening's coverage.
TEXT
EAST COAST QUAKE
MINERAL, Va. — One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded on the East Coast shakes buildings and rattles nerves from South Carolina to New England and forces the evacuations of parts of the Capitol, White House and Pentagon. The quake, measured at magnitude 5.8 and centered outside Richmond, Va., is felt on Martha's Vineyard, where President Barack Obama is taking summer vacation. In Washington and New York, less than three weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, it triggers initial fears of something more sinister than a natural disaster. By Bob Lewis.
QUAKE-INFRASTRUCTURE
The quake was surprisingly strong for the Eastern Seaboard, but only minor damage is reported. The initial prognosis is that there was no major damage to the nation's infrastructure although cellular networks were overwhelmed and memorials on the National Mall were evacuated. Two nuclear reactors near the epicenter in Virginia were taken off line as a precautionary measure and several airport towers closed and incoming plans were put in holdings patterns. But the inconveniences for the most part were shortlived. By National Writer Jeff Donn.
QUAKE-TERROR JITTERS
WASHINGTON — In Washington, near New York's ground zero and across much of the East Coast, shaking ground and swaying buildings sent panicked people running for the exits, pouring into streets or diving under desks. For many: their first thought turned to terrorism and not nature. By Jennifer Kerr.
EAST COAST QUAKE-SCIENCE
WASHINGTON — The East Coast doesn't get quakes often — this is the biggest in Virginia in more than a century — but when they do they can be felt for hundreds of miles. That's because the ground is old and cold. This quake wasn't on a known fault, but the result of stresses initiated thousands of miles away. Science Writers Seth Borenstein and Alicia Chang.
— GLANCE — Significant quakes through history on the East Coast.
PHOTOS/GRAPHIC
DCSA105 — workers gather in the street in downtown Washington.
DCCD112 — people use the stairs to evacuate a Washington building.
MDPS102 — people look up at a building in downtown Baltimore after quake.
MDPS101 — pedestrians cross an intersection in downtown Washington.
DCCD109 — people crowd Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington.
PAAB101 — people examining a building with cracked window after the quake.
GFX248: A locator graphic has been published.
A graphic is being prepared that looks at earthquakes in the Northeast from 1638 to 2007 with related facts.
VIDEO
Buildings are evacuated after a strong quake struck Virginia Tuesday, sending office workers into the streets.http://landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?vcid=23522710&freewheel=90121&sitesection=associatedpress
Quake Rocks Washington Area, Felt on East Coast
A 5.9 magnitude earthquake centered in Virginia shook much of Washington, D.C., and was felt as far north as New York City. (Aug. 23)
http://landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?vcid=23522688&freewheel=90121&sitesection=associatedpress
INTERACTIVE
An interactive is being prepared that will include: the latest news, types of quakes, history of East Coast earthquakes and video reaction to today's quake.
The Associated Press
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