An earthquake that measured 5.9 on the Richter scale shook the East coast shortly before 2 p.m. today, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed. Originating in central Virginia, the quake was felt up and down the coast. Thousands of people were evacuated from buildings in New York and Washington, D.C., including parts of the Pentagon, White House and Capitol, according to MSNBC.

Marcia McNutt, director of the U.S.G.S., who watched items fall from the shelves of her office, confirmed the quake to the Capitol Weather Gang on the website of the Washington Post. “When something like this happen, everyone has to remember, more than half of the states in the U.S. are considered earthquake country,” she said. “When something like this happens, remember what to do in the case of a seismic event. Duck, get under something sturdy like a desk or a doorway, get away from falling glass. Make sure that you are not in the way of falling objects like pictures, bookshelves, books, anything that’s not firmly connected to the wall.”

On YouTube, a Maryland company posted a video of the quake taken by its security camera. You can follow reports of the quake on Twitter #quakereports. Did you feel it? If so the U.S.G.S. wants to hear from you. Go to the agency's website and tell them where you were when you felt the tremor.

Shortly before the eastern event, a 5.3 earthquake rattled Colorado. It was the largest earthquake in Colorado in more than a century, according to the New York Times.