Chantilly Teacher Weathers Quake From the Epicenter

Every year Barbara Prescop, a teacher at Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly, visits rural Lake Anna by Mineral, Va., for some much-needed rest and relaxation before the summer ends. 

But today, Prescop's normally quiet afternoon walk along the lake with her dogs took an unexpected turn, as the very ground shook beneath their feet.

"It was pretty intense," she said. 

"I was walking up a hill, and it was like the ground was rolling. I had to struggle to keep my balance. It sounded like rolling thunder," Prescop said. "It was very loud. The power plant is just around the corner from me so I thought maybe something was wrong with that."

Today's earthquake originated in Mineral, Va. and the shock of it rolled through Chantilly and along the entire East Coast. Even people in Ohio reportedly felt the shocks. It was the largest in Virginia since May 5, 1897, according to the U.S. Geological Society. Despite being located in the epicenter of the earthquake, most buildings in Mineral were not badly damaged and residents are doing fine, according to news reports. 

Still, today's events were without a doubt the most eventful thing that has ever happened during her vacations on Lake Anna. "It's very peaceful," the 22-year Centreville resident said. "It's such a different world out here—you look out the window and you see a lake instead of paved windows."

When Prescop returned to the house, it was in total disarray and the phones were out, but the Internet was working.

"I could see stuff had fallen off the wall and the lights were hanging," she said. On the outside, though, most things look normal, save for the helicopters flying overhead.