Photo by philliefan99.

And now, some status updates on this earthquake which hit the District this afternoon.

There are some reports of some minor damage at various locations around the city, notably at the Old Soldier’s Home and at older building like St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill (see photo below) and at a Baptist church at the intersection of 13th and Monroe Streets NW. Various agencies, including DDOT, D.C. Fire and EMS and DC Water are inspecting various portions of the city’s infrastructure, but nothing major has been reported as of yet.

St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill. (Elisabeth Grant)

Chief of Police Cathy Lanier has said that police are “maintaining a heavy police presence in the community” and that the police’s helicopter “has been flying over for visual assessment with no major damage noted.” Lanier said that residents who smell gas or see people in distress should call 911, despite sketchy cell service.

There are plenty of places that are closing down for the day, including city agencies like the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and institutions like all the Smithsonian museums.

WMATA, of course, is going to be delayed and packed this evening, as it is moving slowly as a safety precaution. Traffic is probably going to be a nightmare, as well, as there are plenty of offices who are releasing employees early. Air and train travel will also be slow going. It is very possible that there may be aftershocks — be sure to prepare yourself for that possibility. Stay calm out there, everyone.

We’ll be collecting news on our Twitter account, so follow us there for the absolute latest.