The summer season started with tragedy as a tornado tore through Missouri. July brought three-digit, sticky temperatures to many parts of the nation. And yesterday, the east coast was shaken by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake that was felt in multiple states.

Luckily, the quake was more of an anomaly than a disaster. But here in Washington, D.C., the commute seemed more catastrophic than anything. Click here for the Washington Post’s photo gallery of events just after the quake. Interestingly, as buildings were closed and workers were sent home, many turned to Twitter and Facebook to inform their friends and family about what had just happened.

We’re now preparing for Hurricane Irene and encourage our readers to head to www.ready.gov for information and preparation suggestions for emergency situations. It’s always a good idea to have a plan with friends and family - and the site is an excellent tool to help you get started.

Stay safe out there!