Magnitude 2.5 Quake Shakes Howard County; No Damage

A magnitude-2.5 earthquake struck Howard County, Maryland, on Monday at about 5:17 p.m., centered in the Columbia/Savage area near Hopewell Park and reported east of Riverside. The quake had a shallow depth of roughly 4–5 miles and was widely felt across the Washington–Baltimore corridor — including Washington, D.C., Arlington, Waldorf, Owings Mills and parts of the Eastern Shore — generating nearly 1,000 “Did You Feel It?” reports to the USGS. Howard County police and fire crews surveyed neighborhoods and, as of initial reports, found no injuries or significant damage. County emergency officials said they are monitoring for possible aftershocks and urged residents to remain vigilant and to call 911 only for emergencies while assessments continue. The USGS notes that small earthquakes occasionally occur in the Washington–Baltimore urban corridor.