As if the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case weren’t thorny enough, Manhattan district attorney Cy Vance was forced to cut short his meeting with the media today when the 5.9 earthquake struck the east coast this afternoon.
His facial expression though really kind of says it all. Read More
Mayor Michael Bloomberg just released a statement about the earthquake that shook the city this afternoon, urging New Yorkers to refrain from calling 911 except in cases of actual emergency.
Bloomberg:
“Like people up and down the East Coast, New Yorkers across the five boroughs felt the effect of this afternoon’s earthquake in Virginia. I’ve spoken with our Police and Fire Commissioners, and we’ve activated the Office of Emergency Management’s Situation Room and spoken to other city agencies, including the Department of Buildings. Thankfully, there are no reports of significant damage or injuries in New York City at this time. As ever, we urge New Yorkers to call 911 only in cases of actual emergencies. Read More
Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a two-sentence statement moments ago saying that the state seems unaffected by the 5.9 earthquake that just rattled the east coast.
“The State Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor effects in New York State from the earthquake that originated in Virginia this afternoon,” the governor said. Read More
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s midtown office was evacuated, an aide said, after this afternoon’s earthquake, whose epicenter is reportedly near Richmond, Virginia. So far, no injuries were reported.
Reports about the quake came in immediately, from a number of sources.
“Of course, Isaac called to gossip about the earthquake,” a colleague said just now.
Of course, Isaac is Isaac Weinberer, the NYC Dept. of Transportation Commissioner and consummate political chatter box.
“Did anyone else feel their office shake just now? Or just me?” Jesse Derris, a Senior V.P. at Sunshine Sachs, wrote on Facebook. “BUILDING WAS SHAKING” wrote Katharine Herrup, a Brooklyn resident (who once wrote for the New York Sun).
Capital New York reporter Dana Rubinstein Tweeted, calmly, “totally just felt my building shake.”
A breaking news alert on the New York Times homepage says the epicenter is near Richmond, Virginia.
