Rattle in the Capital

August 23, 2011, 4:36 pm
The Caucus Click: Rattle in the Capital
By ED WYATT



Stephen Crowley/The New York Times
Workers and visitors who had been ordered to leave federal buildings after an earthquake in Washington on Tuesday watched as helicopters circled the Washington Monument.

An unknown number of people were at the top of the Washington Monument when an earthquake shook the nation’s capital on Tuesday. Sergeant David Schlosser of the United States Park Police, interviewed at the site, said the agency received reports of bricks and mortar falling from the tower.

They took the elevator down without incident. “We have no reports of injuries at any of our monuments and memorials,” Sergeant Schlosser said. “We may have some minor damage, but it doesn’t look like anything substantial.”

The reports of bricks falling led the Park Police to bring a helicopter from its aviation unit to circle the Washington Monument, taking video and still pictures to survey for possible damage.

“There is nothing real obvious now” in terms of damage, Mr. Schlosser said. “But there may be something we need to address.” He said all monuments and memorials were evacuated and closed and will remain so until they can be surveyed for damage.

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